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Thread: Happy Couple as nesting begins...

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    Default Happy Couple as nesting begins...

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    EOS R6 100-500 @500 f9 1/3200 ISO 800 HH, Manual EXP, slight crop for composition

    These two have begun nest building and stopped clacking there bills to pose in late afternoon sun. Those big bills hitting with high frequency is one of the hallmarks of wood stork bonding. Sounds like a pileated on steroids...

    Thanks as always for all valued help on previous posts. Please, keep it coming.

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    Wow David beautiful capture and that is what you call filling the frame. Details look great and love the clouds in the background. No picks from me .TFS

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    Avian Moderator Brian Sump's Avatar
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    Quite an intimate portrait David!

    I'd imagine it was a touch difficult to expose but looks pretty good. The clouds add a nice little depth to break up the blue sky. Maybe a run of DN on the bkg could enhance it a bit?

    Not familiar with this species; is the male (left I presume?) really that much darker than the counterpart in the face or just shadows?

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Very nice indeed, the left bird is not lit quite so well as the one on the right so quite naturally the head is a little darker. You may wish to try a little very subtle Burn, I feel it brings out a little more detail.

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Very well done. Excellent HA's..
    Dan Kearl

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    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Sump View Post
    Quite an intimate portrait David!

    I'd imagine it was a touch difficult to expose but looks pretty good. The clouds add a nice little depth to break up the blue sky. Maybe a run of DN on the bkg could enhance it a bit?

    Not familiar with this species; is the male (left I presume?) really that much darker than the counterpart in the face or just shadows?
    Hi Brian and all helpful friends,
    These are wood storks, our only native stork in North America. Their range is mostly in Florida and the Caribbean. As recently as 10 years back they were endangered as they are very dependent on proper water levels in the glades and elsewhere. They are waders and hunt in very specific way. They stir up the bottom with feet as they stick their bill right down in the mud. Any thing that moves will trigger a very fast unconscious reflex which closes the bill. While the bird on the left (yes, the larger bird is the male) is looking into the sun angle, it actually does have have much more black on face and bill. This varies greatly in individuals, is more prominent in mating birds and not sex driven. So, much variation. Thanks to every one for valued help and encouragement.
    Peace,
    David

    ps
    their status right now is least concern, a great improvement over endangered. They only nest in large colonies and never alone.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    I like the framing of the two together here David and you have some cool details. For me the head details are masked by the darks and shadows, pegging back some of your settings just opens things up, so exposes more of the original capture. Using PS's sharpening will also brings out that lovely plumage. The pale blue of the sky 'pops' the white nicely.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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