Scaly-feathered finch (Sporopipes squamifrons)
Khutse Game Reserve, Kalaharti, Botswana.
I realise there are some hot highlights on its back. Personally I do not mind this at all here because it is a back-lit image and reflects what I saw plus it could not have been avoided, but I would like to hear what you nit-pickers have to say about this (that's a compliment btw) :D
Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark III Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/200 Av( Aperture Value ) 13.0 Metering Mode Evaluative Metering ISO Speed 1000 Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM +2.0x Focal Length 1000.0 mm Flash On Flash Type External E-TTL Flash Exposure Compensation -1
Handheld
Cropped to vertical and added a bit of canvas on top.
Hi Vincent. Blown highlights are a technical limitation of the medium with some backlit subjects so we have to live with them. Processing 2 versions of the raw file and then combining as a HDRtype image can work sometimes. This is a good image with a nice pose and feather details opened up with flash. I would clone out the seedhead emerging from the tail and smooth out the BG on the upper right.
Great pose, details, BG and setting. I agree with Tony regarding PS work. Alternatively, you could tone down the highlights more starting with the RAW file using highlight recovery, exposure and curves.