Black-shouldered kite (Elanus caeruleus)

[Per-Gunnar Ostby]

In Tarangire National Park in tanzania we were able to get very close to this Black-shouldered Kite eating a field mouse. We got so close that this is an uncropped image. 1D MkIII with 600 f4

[Glenn Bartley]

Gorgeous image. I wish there was more room below and behind. I think you could clone out teh branch over the birds foot too.

[Vincent Grafhorst]

What a beautiful raptor. This black-shouldered kite is very different from the one we get in southern Africa (Elanus axillaris). Great photo, only a pity about the OOF branch in the FG...

[Blake Shadle]

I agree with Glenn on what would be nice to enhance this image. Your background is incredible. I think it would absolutely be worth the effort to added the needed canvas, and remove the out of focus branch in the foreground.

[Per-Gunnar Ostby]

Thanks for the comments guys. I will try to clone out the branch in front but could be a bit tough, especially around the mouse. Not sure how I would go about adding the extra canvas though

[Per-Gunnar Ostby]

OK - I cloned the twig out. How does this look?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Hi Per-Gunnar,

I applied some NR on the BG because there was some posterization and added a bit canvas on the left side.

[Blake Shadle]

Very nice work guys! Pushed it over the top!

[Per-Gunnar Ostby]

Axel, thanks for that. it does indeed make it better. The posterization was probably due to the level I saved it at.

It does work for images this size but for print I am unsure whether the cloning will hold water. Additionally I have to admit that I generally fall into the school of thought which allows only the most basic of changes (spot removal, contrast, etc), so unsure how I feel about it.

But a good lesson nevertheless.