Pale Chanting Goshawk Portrait

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Pale Chanting Goshawk (juvenile). Typical perch for this bird, right up in the topmost branches of an Acacia tree. Kgalagadi TFP.

D600 + Tamron 150-600 G2 @ 600mm.
f/7.1 | 1/1250s | 200 ISO | Beanbag in car window.
Exposure raised by an f-stop, highlights lowered, shadows raised. All in LR.

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the image layout but I feel the shadows have been lifted proportionally too much and as a consequence you have lost contrast or pop. Also raising shadows can result in a lack of saturation. It's a really nice shot, I strongly recommend going back to raw.

[Glenn Pure]

I agree with Jon that this is a very nice shot but the bird is looking a bit thin tonally: not just the shadows for me but mid and highlights as well. I'd drop the exposure a little for starters. Good pose and nice detail and definitely worth another go at this one.

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Thanks Jon & Glenn for your comments. Based on that: slight curves adjustment on midtones & brights using luminosity masks.

[Jonathan Ashton]

It still looks a bit washed out to me Tobie, I think I would have gone back to basics, i.e. as shot, then check the overall exposure, then check curves

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

It still looks a bit washed out to me Tobie, I think I would have gone back to basics, i.e. as shot, then check the overall exposure, then check curves

Done that Jon, thanks for the recommendation. I'll then conclude my efforts with this last RP.

[keith mitchell]

Tobie that's a vast improvement in my eyes,lots of excellent detail and nicely sharp,great looking hawk.

Keith.

[Glenn Pure]

The latest repost looks a lot better to me. Good work.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Yep, the repost is much better and richer. Bummer about the steep angle, but it sounds like that is pretty much what these guys offer.