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Thread: Scarlet macaw portrait

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    Default Scarlet macaw portrait

    Hi, I thought I would share this portrait of a scarlet macaw.I love natural black backgrounds with dappled natural light for rainforest subjects so when I noticed this fellow in the sun with a shaded background, I was excited. I know the lighting might not be to everyone's taste so I'll be interested to read comments/suggestions.

    Tech: Canon 40D, Canon 300 mm f2.8, 1.4x, ISO 640, f5.6, 1/1000, handheld, manual mode to underexpose by about 3 stops, full-frame, upped the blacks a bit in Lightroom, and that's it



    Cheers,
    Greg Basco

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    Hola Greg!

    You are right that this is not the typical image of a Scarlet Macaw.

    I find this image very interesting since is not common at all.

    I may suggest lighten the face a bit more.

  3. #3
    Axel Hildebrandt
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    The colors look very dramatic, details and eye contact look good. I would give it more space at the top. What I find problematic is that the beak seems separated from the rest of the head.

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Powerful image Greg! Very dramatic. I agree with both of Axel's points.
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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Greg:

    A real sense of mystery with this one. Very evocative. I do agree with Axel and Doug about the floating beak issue. I did minor tweak, which I don't think detracts from the power of your image, but makes the face a bit more complete.

    Just an option.

    Randy

  6. #6
    Alfred Forns
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    I like the idea behind the image for a dramatic look but its not working for me. Would like to see a smoother transition to the D-Max area and a lighter face for the bird

    Settings wise since you are going for the dark look might have made it wide open to lower the ISO since dof is not an issue !! Do like the selected crop and trying something different !!!!

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    Hi Greg: I like the mood of this shot very much. I am not bothered at all with the beak issue raised above. The dark parts of the face fit in very well with the rest of the image. I know the beak is connected and don't need the light there to make me see it. Clearly this is an art image, not a standard "portrait' image. I like it. Maybe a little more room at the top, but I can easily see this framed as is and working very well with a mat around the image. I'm chuckling to myself about you having to shoot this in manual to get to -3.... Thx Canon!

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    Hi Greg,
    I have to agree wth Keith here and love the OOTB thinking! And Keith, as you so rightly say, Thx Canon!!!
    Best,
    Nicki

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    I like the lighting effect in this, and my only small nit is the point raised by Axel regarding the separation of the beak.

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    The image works for me, I kinda like the mysteriousness of the bird in the dark. The lightened facial area helped.

  11. #11
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    The repost is a big improvement and while the lighting is dramatic and different, the fact that the back of the bird and the wing coverts are more brightly lit than the bird's face is too much to overcome....
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