Same birds, same BGs, what to do?

[Fabs Forns]

A place like the Alli Farm can be overwhelming with so many opportunities. On the other hand, most every image possible there has already been done, with so many photographers around. So you really need to look for stuff out of the beaten path. This Snowy was displaying behind a tree and I positioned myself so I could see part of him through and opening in the branches. My intentions were to get him behind him some OOF foliage, but opportunity resented itself in the way of a straight on display with an interesting BG. What do you think?
Couple of branches in the left of the frame softened.

Date: 5/2/09
Time: 6:34:44 PM
Model: NIKON D3
Lens (mm): 400 mm with 80-400/5.6 hand held
ISO: 1000
Aperture: 5.6
Shutter: 1/160
Exp. Comp.: +0.3

One of the times the lens delivered for me at 400mm and wide open.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Wow Fabs!

That alligator farm really rocks! Lovely mood in this one, love the green BG which complements really well with the white heron.
Eye contact, can we ask for more...? just kitting.

Very nice image, big congrats.

[Steve Maxson]

A cool pose and very nice detail in the whites. I like the soft green tones in the background. To me, this cries out to be a vertical - though you might have to cut part of the bird on the right side of the frame to achieve that.

[Fabs Forns]

A cool pose and very nice detail in the whites. I like the soft green tones in the background. To me, this cries out to be a vertical - though you might have to cut part of the bird on the right side of the frame to achieve that.

Steve, I though of cropping this to a square, but then I'd loose the green that attracted me to the image in the first place :(

Thanks guys for your coments!

[Dave Phillips]

I really like the pose.....never tire of these.

For my taste, would get a good white on the bird and add overall
pop to the entire image by local contrast(USM), esp the great light green
and darken(vignette) the perimeter a bit....but that's just me.

I tried it and it does look.....different for sure

[Fabs Forns]

I really like the pose.....never tire of these.

For my taste, would get a good white on the bird and add overall
pop to the entire image by local contrast(USM), esp the great light green
and darken(vignette) the perimeter a bit....but that's just me.

I tried it and it does look.....different for sure

I'd be interested to see what y ou did :)

[Dave Phillips]

I'd be interested to see what y ou did :)

I withdraw about the darkening bg edges.....like the original, that
strong green is a key element as you noted and I even increased thse sat a bit.
The histo still has way bunches of room to right. :) Now you get to critique back.
Thanks for the play

[Fabs Forns]

I like it, not going to say more or less. just another version totally useful. I'm always afraid to push the whites by the numbers :(

Thanks for a refreshing alternative :)

[Dave Phillips]

thanks Fabs....always love to play AND learn

[Stu Bowie]

Cool hairdo Fabs, and love the headon stare from him. I feel the BG has worked out nicely, for him to stand out so well. I like the splayed feathers at the bottom too.

[Jasper Doest]

Hi Fabs,

I think the bg adds interest....so besides brightening things up a bit (like the repost) I wouldn't do a thing.

[Chris Kotze]

Great feather detail well exposed