Mourning Dove

[Rafael Rodriguez Mojica]

Hi to all. I'm a nature lover/photographer from Puerto Rico. This is my first post to this forum.

I photographed this Mourning Dove along the road to Cartagena Lagoon, west Puerto Rico. I shot from the car on a heavy overcast day. There are plenty of this doves feeding along the road to the lagoon, which fly to a nearby post/tree when the car approaches. I used flash fill-in with fresnel lens attached.

Data:

Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark II N
Shooting Date/Time 9/10/2008 49:17 AM
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/640
Av( Aperture Value ) 10.0
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
Digital Exposure Compensation +0.6
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Focal Length 700.0 mm
Image Size 3504x2336
Image Quality Superfine
Flash On
Flash Type External E-TTL
Flash Exposure Compensation +1/3
Shutter curtain sync 1st-curtain sync
White Balance Mode Cloudy
AF Mode One-Shot AF
Picture Style Portrait
Sharpness 3
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Color tone 0
Color Space Adobe RGB
Noise Reduction On

[Fabs Forns]

Hey Rafael, bienvenido!

Big welcome. I have a special pace in my heart for La Isla den Encanto :) The Island of Enchantment as it's called.

As presented, the images looks a bit underexposed and the sky has a slight reddish cast to it.
I see you were photographing aiming up in Aperture value, yet you dialed no compensation. On an overcast day a looking up, you needed to dial plus even if you used flash.
I'd also have used a wider aperture for more shutter speed, since there was no background.

Keep them coming!

[Raul Quinones]

Nice shot, I have to agree with Fabiola, it does look a little under expose. That said, I am familiar with your work and love it.

[Arthur Morris]

Welcome Rafael, The image is sharp and the bird's head position is OK. The bird is a bit dark most likely because you did not add enough light when creating the image. Try to find one perched down lower as the angle to the bird is steep and the perch is not very attractive. We look forward to helping you to improve.

[Rafael Rodriguez Mojica]

Gracias for your comments. I'll take them into consideration the next time. You may call me by my nickname, Rafy.

Rafy
www.caribbeannaturephotography.com

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Very lovely composition and pose in this image. I agree with the above comments but love the whole feeling of this image and will look forward to your future posts Rafy !!!!!! Thanks for sharing.

[Rafael Rodriguez Mojica]

Dear Mr Morris:

I've always been a big fan of you and your photographic techniques. In fact my mentor, Eladio Fernandez, from Dominican Republic is also one of your fans. I have studied many of your photos from your bulletin and learned from the comments. I hope to take a workshop with you one of these days. Thanks for looking and commenting on my photo.

Rafy

Welcome Rafael, The image is sharp and the bird's head position is OK. The bird is a bit dark most likely because you did not add enough light when creating the image. Try to find one perched down lower as the angle to the bird is steep and the perch is not very attractive. We look forward to helping you to improve.

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Rafy, Thanks for your more than kind words and good plan!