Hi Chris, this is quite a beautiful species you have the chance of keeping tags on. Unfortunately the image is quite soft (heavy crop?), one eye is completely shadowed, and the perch is not the prettiest in the world. Hope to see more of this fella :-)
Yes 100% crop on a bird that I simply could not get as close as I wanted to. Yup I missed the right eye but the position of the sun was not in my favour and there is little PP on this image as is my want.
As I have previously stated I do minimal PP and all my images are for my satisfaction and if I do get the perfect image it will be through trying to take the perfect photograph (may never happen)
Having said that I do appreciate ALL critiques as it helps me see what folk here want to see and thus gives me the incentive to go to extremes to "do it right out of the camera" and not create art out of reality.
I thank you for your feedback and it is well noted.
I have these kites address and intend to ask the owner of the property for permission to enter his property to get closer to these birds. (a pair)
I know the times they hunt, the winds they like and the angles of the sun that suite me and I will get the perfect shots soon (weather permitting)\
I know that I can cheat in PS but I still like the challange of the (out of the box image) but at the same time I will learn as much as I can about PS and hopefully use it sparingly.
I may be a luddite in this clan of great artists but I have always made a point of proving my ability to myself first and others last and I like it that way.
So on and on I go and some day it will happen and if it does not it won't be for lack of trying.
You are over halfway there if you know the intimate details and habits of the pair. Now you need to put some positive actions into place and bingo! Cannot wait mate! :)
Caught them again today but 5 pm and the sun was directly behind them did not waste a shot but I did leave them a present of two mice (dead) I used to feed them to my Captive King Brown Snake (now returned from whence it came, it was simply too bloody dangerous) and buy them from a chap that breeds them for snake collectors.
May be a waste of time but I only pay $1 per mouse