Another Hi-Key Kingfisher

[Bill Dix]

Hovering Pied Kingfisher from Botswana. As I was about to post this, I suddenly wondered what it would look like if I pushed the contrast almost to 100% for the sake of the month's theme. This is the result. The original version is in the next pane. I do wish he were angled a degree or two toward me.

D500, Sigma 150-600C @ 600mm; ISO 3200, 1/2000s @ f/7.1 manual. HH

[Bill Dix]

Here's the way I originally processed it. WDYT?

[gail bisson]

I like pane #2 A LOT!
I think the comp is perfect and the KF has a wonderful pose and the whites look great.
With the OP, the increased contrast has made you lose some detail in the whites.
Very nice,
Gail

[Randy Stout]

Bill:

Very thematic! Agree with Gail, although I did an intermediate version where I increased the contrast in the darkest tones, left whites alone, and it gave it just a bit more snap, without losing detail in the whites. Might be worth a fiddle.

Cheers

Randy

[John Mack]

The second one looks the best of the two. Great pose here.

[Isaac Grant]

You did really well in Africa Bill. Both you and Geoff. I am very happy for both of you. This is super cool with raised wings, a classic kingfisher hunting pose and the high key look works perfectly. I also prefer number 2.

[Bill Dix]

Thank you all. Isaac, it was a spectacular trip. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Many more to come.

Randy, I did some fiddling as you suggested, using Curves to darken the dark greys and blacks just a tad. It does give it more snap, as you said.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Neat hovering capture, Bill. I prefer pane #2. Like the slightly open beak in preparation of the dive.

Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu