Ring-necked Pheasant in Flight

[Jim Neiger]

Northern Utah - 1D3, 500mm+1.4xTC, hand held, 1/1250, F5.6, ISO 800, manual exposure

This image was made yesterday while photographing birds in Utah with Doug Brown and several other friends. I'm posting from my laptop, so I hope it looks ok.

[Jim Neiger]

I just noticed that this image appears much larger when posted than when I view actual pixels in PS. This appears to be causing the image to look horrible on my laptop. Anyone have any idea why this is occuring?

[Amirtharaj Williams]

This is definitely a picture that would look beautiful on the wall. Nice shot.

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Jim, The image quality looks fine from here. Love the wing position and the BKGR but for the darker stripe. A PANO crop from the bottom would be an improvement as would a better head angle (said the man with not a single pheasant flight image in his collection....)

How are the Barn Owls doing????

Christy; please see the Great Shot sticky at the top of the Avian Forum; thank you sir.

[Ramon M. Casares]

IMO it looks a very little bit overexposed, but that´s probably becasue of the laptop monitor, the shot is STUNNING! great detail, colors, BG, pose, sharpness and light! You are one of my favorites photographers!

[Amirtharaj Williams]

Hey Jim, The image quality looks fine from here. Love the wing position and the BKGR but for the darker stripe. A PANO crop from the bottom would be an improvement as would a better head angle (said the man with not a single pheasant flight image in his collection....)

How are the Barn Owls doing????

Christy; please see the Great Shot sticky at the top of the Avian Forum; thank you sir.

Hi Artie,

Noted. I thought about commenting on the dark stripe, but was hesitant being a newbie here. Thank you. Christy

[Mike Tracy]

It does look a bit bright and lacks the distinctive contrast between feathers I associate with pheasants. Knowing your proficiency with exposure I think once you get home you will be able to improve upon it. I don't get too caught up in head angle but wish he was looking ever so slightly more towards you.

I like the extension of the tail and the soft colors of the background.

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Artie, Noted. I thought about commenting on the dark stripe, but was hesitant being a newbie here. Thank you. Christy

Hi Christy, Newbie or not, we simply want to know what you like about an image or what you don't like. The more people who follow that simple guideline, the better BPN will be. And YAW.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great-looking bird, details and BG. I cropped a bit off top and bottom, and increased saturation and contrast.

[Arthur Morris]

Great job on the re-post, but this is another example of the vital importance of head angle....

[Mike Lentz]

I think this is wonderful Jim. I would have done about what Axel did with a contrast/color boost so my nits are covered.

Yo Artie, :D I generally agree with the HAP rules, but since this one appears to be opening up towards the aparent light source illuminating the eyes and face... I think it gets a pass in my book. :) Whatchoo think?

[Arthur Morris]

Yo Artie, :D I generally agree with the HAP rules, but since this one appears to be opening up towards the aparent light source illuminating the eyes and face... I think it gets a pass in my book. :) Whatchoo think?

No rules and no way. No pass in my book. The light was behind Mr. Neiger and with the bird's head turned away, the rear part of the face is in the shadow of its shoulder....

Mr. Neiger, do you like the head angle?

[Dan Brown]

Great shot Jim! I agree with a better HA. I have the feeling that he is flying away from you even though I can't see the left wing. But, I know how fast these guys fly, and I would die for a shot like this, Great work!!!

[Jim Neiger]

No rules and no way. No pass in my book. The light was behind Mr. Neiger and with the bird's head turned away, the rear part of the face is in the shadow of its shoulder....

Mr. Neiger, do you like the head angle?

Of course I would prefer a better head angle, but I have wanted a flight image of this bird for a couple of years now, so I was very happy to get one with the eye visible at all. I don't see this bird here in FL so my only opportunities are few and far between. Thanks for all the suggestions.

FYI: I neglected to thank Doug Brown for flushing this bird for me. I have flushed many of them myself on my visits to bosque, but this always results in butt shots. Thanks Doug!

[Juan Aragonés]

Man I would be very happy having an image like this one on my CF card! Of course, the head turn could be better but, IMO, this is a keeper. I agree with Ramón about the fact that the image looks overexposed and I like the idea of the pano crop suggested by Artie. I added a touch of contrast and saturation and toned down the image a bit. Would love to see this image after you reprocess it in your desk computer Jim.
Superb OOF BG and wing pose. I like it a lot

[Per-Gunnar Ostby]

Fantastic shot. When I first saw it I immediately thought pano and I think Juan's repost suits the shot best