Bosque Eagle

[Tom Callahan]

Canon 40D
Canon 400 F/5.6
out car window on bean bag.
PS: crop, levels, curves, highlights and shadows, smart sharpen, removed some distracting branches

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Very nice pose, details and eye contact. I would put the bird higher in the frame, crop a bit off the left, desaturate the sky and dark plumage and try to get more details in the shadows.

[Steve Maxson]

Nice image, Tom. I think Axel nailed the critique and I agree completely.

[Tom Callahan]

Thanks for the feedback. I agree with the crop suggestions and am wondering about the rec to desaturate. I worked those feathers to the bone is PS and am not sure more detail is possible. Please advise.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

You could use S/H or curves and decrease contrast a few points and see if that makes a difference. As for desaturation, you can go to saturation and either desaturate the entire image a bit or choose a color, such as blue in this case. Something like this maybe. It would be easier to start with the RAW file.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Very lovely repost Axel The crop also strengthens this beautiful capture. Very regal pose Tom and definitely a keeper. Thanks for sharing.

[Tom Callahan]

Axel,
Thanks for the repost and suggestions. I seemed to get more noise when I tried to push S/H. I'll try it again.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

If you apply curves in the RAW file it won't get much noisier. I think there is also a slight magenta cast.

[Tom Callahan]

Axel,
Thanks for your advise. I am going to upload another version of the same eagle and see if it looks better?