The saddle-billed stork

[Steve Kaluski]

Never have been able to get close to these birds, they seem to have a large comfort zone hence the 2x. This was was fishing in the shallow, marsh area, near the spillway. Shot taken on the late afternoon game drive, one from the archives.

Thanks to those who posted or viewed on the last posting.

Steve

Subject: Saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis)
Location: Botswana - Selinda camp
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +2x III HH
Exposure: 1/2000s at f/8 ISO1000
Original format: Portrait, very slight crop
Processed via: LRC 9.3 & PS2020

[David Roach]

I'd be happy with seeing this bird, let alone getting an excellent image like this. Great EXP and SH and I love the simple environment. TFS

[Daniel Cadieux]

Very neat bird! Both the blacks and the whites are pleasingly dealt with. Sharp. Vivid colours. I do wish the subject was a bit lower in the frame. This is a tough one to get level as the lines in the water are slanting down, but the colour strips in the BG are straight - have you tried a version with "level" water to see how that looks?

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks David.

This is a tough one to get level as the lines in the water are slanting down, but the colour strips in the BG are straight - have you tried a version with "level" water to see how that looks?

Hi Dan, yes it is a tough one, as I went for the vertical leg. The RP is where the water is 'level', but does this too, look odd, WDYT? I think its hard to pick a 'true' straight line, probably ends up to rotate back a little, more visually done than anything else.

Thanks
Steve

[gail bisson]

Repost is better re: leveling.
What is the red by the leg? A flower? Whatever it is, I wish it was not there!
Good comp and exposure spot on.
Great HA too.
Gail

[Jonathan Ashton]

I suspect he was moving so it is difficult to determine exactly the correct position. A pleasing image I see you have done your colour corrections and removals and left a faint luminance sheen of blue in the wings i.e. not eliminating it entirely. Looks good, though I am slightly surprised black/deep the blacks are, I appreciate the feathers in the neck are ruffled. Composition looks good = I like it.

[Steve Kaluski]

What is the red by the leg? A flower? Whatever it is, I wish it was not there!

It's part of the leg Gail, remove it, and they will fall over.

A pleasing image I see you have done your colour corrections and removals and left a faint luminance sheen of blue in the wings i.e. not eliminating it entirely. Looks good, though I am slightly surprised black/deep the blacks are, I appreciate the feathers in the neck are ruffled. Composition looks good = I like it.

Not quite Jon, blue was removed prior, I just use another layer sampling picker and Blend mode for whites. Black as you know are not blocked/chocked, but its the way the light catches then as it moves it's head, these are big birds almost 5ft in old money.

[John Mack]

Nice to see the bird in those grasses. Gives a nice sense of the environment.