Roseate Spoonbill

[Joseph Przybyla]

I captured this image along Blackpoint Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Merritt Island, Florida. The day was overcast with light showers. I was sitting next to the car on top of the banking at one of the ponds. This bird wandered so close I could only captured this portrait. I have posted one similar before but I think this one is better. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D500
Nikon 500mm F/5.6 VR AF-S ED PF HH
1/1600 F/5.6 Matrix Metering EV +2/3 ISO 2000 Auto 1 WB, image captured at 500mm (750mm 35mm Equivalent)
Post processed in Lightroom Classic, Photoshop CC 2021 and Neat Image for noise reduction
Cropped for composition and presentation

[Mike Poole]

Somebody somewhere may disagree with me, but this looks just about perfect to my eyes. Great bird, loads of detail

Mike

[Jonathan Ashton]

I really don't disagree at all with Mike's comments. This image looks absolutely beautiful. I really like the tones and colours, the pose of the bird makes me think what a splendid creature it is and yet it looks so fed up with the weather (hey he should be here!!). Its a knock out image, I'm going to have another look at it!

[Volkan Akgul]

hi, very good detail.

as if next to me..

[Daniel Cadieux]

I love it too, especially the water drops on the spoonbill. I think the face could go a touch lighter personally, but very strong overall.

[Bill Dix]

Hi Joe. Lovely portrait. Perfect pose, exquisite detail. The neutral background lets the bird's colors pop nicely.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Joe a very strong image ... super clean .
Really love the overall color palette .
I would agree with Daniel , as a personal taste I would try to get more tonal variation in the face and bill area .
Cool are the numerous water droplets on the plumage ....

A pleasure to look at .

TFS Andreas

[Colin Driscoll]

Nothing to say but what a beauty!

[Paul Burdett]

Yes...not much to add. Stunning image. Would love to be able to photograph this species. Yes to lighter on the face.

[Brian Sump]

Joe, would be a blessing to be able to shoot RSB's.

Love the pose with slight head toward the camera and the water droplets remaining.

Wrinkles on the face and eye detail are cool too. Agree that bringup up the brightness in the face would help. Also, if you had room I could see a version with less left and a little more right.

Definitely one of the better of this species we've seen from you my friend!

[Joseph Przybyla]

Thanks everyone for viewing and commenting, very much appreciated. Using the suggestion offered to brighten the face here is a repost reflecting that suggestion.

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

Very nice Subject and image.
Increasing Brightness helps, but I think you might want to revisit it, dodging went over the bird into background.
TFS

[Joseph Przybyla]

Very nice Subject and image.
Increasing Brightness helps, but I think you might want to revisit it, dodging went over the bird into background.
TFS

Thanks Krishna, I missed that, will fix it and repost.