White-bellied Sea Eagle

[Paul Burdett]

Just back from 2 days away at my favourite location for Ospreys, Sea eagles and Brahminy Kites (1.5 hours from home). Took over 1000 photos...here's one taken one hour before full sunset. I was able to capture this WBSE at various distance away (some full in the frame, some not so), but I quite like this view. (not so happy with the shadow, but from the viewing platform the sun was not quite behind me) No crop here.

D500/500PF, 1/4000th sec@f5.6, iso1000.

[John Mack]

Nice and sharp. The light is very nice. Good detail on the bird as well. Love a dorsal view like this. I like the feather pattern.

[Paul Burdett]

Thanks John. I must admit that the only thing that bugs me is the shadow (just added that comment in my original post).

[dankearl]

This is a very cool image, Paul, has its flaws but the face and beak are nice... run some more NR on the BG.

[Paul Burdett]

Thanks Dan. Maybe some very minor noise at 200%, but an easy fix. I also went back and removed the faint halo around the top of the bird's beak.

[Colin Driscoll]

Very close! Great head, beak and back detail and very nice light. Maybe a bit of work on those shadows in the BG would soften them.

[Paul Burdett]

Hi Colin. Thank you for the feedback and suggestion...it's appreciated.

[kevin Hice]

Paul I love this. My wish is you didn't have all the darks. Don't know if you can do anything with this. I'm not that great in PS. That beak and face,eyes just fantastic with the light. Even the feathers going down the back lovely. TFS

[gail bisson]

The way the light hits the face is really nice.
Perfect HA.
Nothing you can do about the shadows.
Gail

[Arthur Morris]

Great bird, sharp, sweet light, and a perfect exposure. But the shadows make this on an insta-delete for me.

with love, artie

[William Dickson]

I can see the attraction of this image Paul....The head area....Lovely light, detail and eye perfect....The shadows and position of the near wing are a bummer.

Will

[Paul Burdett]

Thank you all for the feedback...much appreciated.
Artie: Yes, even though the shadows are not ideal I'm ok with them. Certainly not an insta-delete for me, as I only got 2 shots at this distance, and I really like the the image.

[Arthur Morris]

The shadow by itself is not too, too bad. It is the cross-hatched lattice work that seems to indicate a manmade structure that kills the image for me. So, I smoothed out some of the black stuff below and in front of the bird and came up with an idea for a repost ...
with love, a

[Arthur Morris]

ps: DeNoise AI on the background is much needed.

a

[Paul Burdett]

Thanks Artie. Thank you for taking the time to edit...much appreciated. Interesting crop...I thought of 16x9 at first, but settled on the posted crop. I do like the smoothing you did, thank you. I did run Topaz DN, but maybe more BG NR needed as you say. Hoping to get back to the same location soon. Cheers.

[Brian Sump]

Paul, the head and lighting from there up is about as nice as it gets. Beautifully processed.

I am not even sure the shadows would have been as much an issue from my view had the wing extended down through the lower portion of the frame. Dramatic lighting can have an impact, of course depending on the rest of the frame.

So many of the right pieces on this one. Keep pushing my friend, it's fun to watch you improve!

[Paul Burdett]

Brian: Thank you so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Paul indeed a very nice and intense frame you posted .
Works for me as presented , like the IQ ...

TFS Andreas

[Paul Burdett]

Hi Andreas...thank you. Your feedback is appreciated as always. Cheers.