Red Kites Interaction

[William Dickson]

Canon 1DX Mk2
f/4 400mm DO Mk2
f/4
1/5000
ISO 640

Something different from my time with the Red Kites...The bird on top was carrying food, and the bird below decided to attack...I liked the stretched out talon ready to strike....ACR and PS2021..

Will

[Steve Kaluski]

Well done Will, great interaction and a tough capture, good to see you had better weather, but it still doesn't slow the 'swoop' down, for when they come in for feeding.

Overall it's a bit flat, the light is all very even and lacks the depth I would expect to see, for me there should be more darker/shadow areas within the subjects, did you lighten the whole image? And for those who wonder why I've said this, because I was there six days ago.

TFS
Steve

[William Dickson]

Hi Steve, thanks for that....yes I did lighten a little...the light was changing rapidly as it was quite windy, and clouds were being blown around....so was changing my exposure settings quite a bit...I know it has flaws, but thought it was worth sharing....How did you get on at Bellymack....The biggest problem I found was the sun was on our left hand side which caused a few issues, it would have been better designed if the sun was behind....I've found that its better going there on a white cloud day....How did you get on when you were there...

Will

[Steve Kaluski]

I know it has flaws, but thought it was worth sharing....

Definitely, but I think in the PP you just flattened things a bit too much, I'm guessing partly through Topaz NR.

Will, I was just passing through, hadn't realised it was where you shot these until you said. The drizzle rolled in and cut the visibility then the sun came out and light got harsh. As you say, tricky with the tree line where they hangout waiting to be feed, then in blue or white sky so not great. Agree a location better when overcast so the whites can be controlled more and if you have the wind from the LHS they will fly into it, slightly stalling before that steep dive.

Did I get anything, not sure, a lot of crap that's for sure and the 1DX3 did better than the R5, even when trying some AF options I have never used before for BIF, but will look when I'm back home.

[Brian Sump]

Will, the interaction is awesome. Eye contact from the upper subject rocks and love the sharpness even of the talons, which carries feather tip to feather tip. Well done at f4!

Love that you got some clouds in the blue sky for added viewing. Ideally would have some of the second subject's eye but that is really a super minor nit as the frame is really strong.

Love the composition. I do see some of the graininess in the plumage as if it were lifted.

Overall, this rocks!

[William Dickson]

Thanks for that Brian.....it was more of a crop than I usually post, glad you liked it..

Will

[dankearl]

Cool action frame, the crop does show a bit, glad you got one looking at you...

[William Dickson]

Cool action frame, the crop does show a bit, glad you got one looking at you...

Thanks Dan..not a wall hanger for sure, more like a behaviour shot

Will

[Arthur Morris]

Well, what do you know? I think that this is very special. The birds and the tones look totally natural to me, exactly as I would expect in the soft light. The foot of the bird in the front on the wing of the bird in the back more than makes up for the lack of an eye. With a bit more luck, the near-wing of the bird in the back would have been fully flared ...

with love, artie

[Jay Ing]

Gotta love that action. I'd go darker with more contrast myself... but I'm not that good in post so...