Yellow-knobbed Curassow

[Tom Friedel]

Shot in Venezuela, a bird watcher paradise. The future of this species (and perhaps many species in the americas) may soon be decided in the voting booth.

This photo is totally sharp. The whites aren't hot. I am wondering how to make the photo better, to make it pop more. Should I try and take out the shadow, to make the use of flash less obvious?

Canon Xti, Canon 300 f/4
ISO 200 f 6.3 1/200

Lastly, my Xti died and I upgraded to a 5D with large image sensor. I think I am getting better photos at faster ISO settings, but maybe I am just imagining that because of something I read about the camera. I always avoided ISO 400 with the camera this shot was taken with.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Lastly, my Xti died and I upgraded to a 5D with large image sensor. I think I am getting better photos at faster ISO settings, but maybe I am just imagining that because of something I read about the camera. I always avoided ISO 400 with the camera this shot was taken with.

I wouldn't hesitate using ISO 400 on any Canon DSLR. I used a Rebel XT until recently, and almost always had it on ISO 400 and the results were (are) great.

You are right about the strong flash here, and the large tree behind the bird only served as a canvas to project the flash's strong shadow onto. Is this the onboard flash, or an external unit? Either way you can set the FEC lower on-camera to avoid this look.

Otherwise very nice bird, lucky for you to have been able to photograph such exotics in the wild.

[Alfred Forns]

Sharpness wise the original I'm sure it sharp but as presented needs a little more, particularly around the head area. Also the sharpest point seems to be at the wing, would try re positioning the AF point on the eye.

Agree with you on the flash intensity, you want fill only. Position wise don't like the bird with half the tree behind, best to wait/move. Also making the image sooner would have place the bird coming at you rather than just going away. Cropping wise might take a little of the bottom and have more room up front, you always want to have room for the bird to move into. Looking forward to more and wishing these guys luck !!!!

[Arthur Morris]

Best advice would be for you to have moved to your left and gotten lower... This would have allowed you to better parallel the subject and avoided the merge of the front of the bird with the tree. Sharp with good EXP.

[Maxis Gamez]

I have to agree with Artie. When I was in Venezuela, I didn't get a chance to view many birds!! :(

Felicidades!