Kittiwake (Rissa trydactila)

[Juan Aragonés]

This portrait of a kittiwake is from a several months ago whe I was testing the 500VR of a friend and I think that it was the day that I felt in love with that lens. Amazingly sharp, lightning fast AF and very handholdable. That was the day that I decided to say by-by to my 300VR and to save for one of this lenses.
This is a crop of about 5MP of the D2X but the small size of the photosites in the D2X makes this camera madly good for cropings. Matched with the 500VR the sharpness and details that it can produce is fantastic and the eye of this gull is a very good example.

Nikon D2X AFS Nikkor 500VR+1,4XTC handholded 1/1000s f6,3 ISO320

[Kobus Tollig]

supjer detail for a crop. Well exposed and great bg. I would add some space on the left

[Randy Stout]

Juan:

Lovely light, allowing subtle variations in the feathers and coloration to show through. Nice HA, BG, sharpness.

I like it as is, but Kobus has a point, might give it a bit more room to the left.

Cheers

Randy

[Ramon M. Casares]

I thought the same about the room needed to the left from the miniature, but large it looks better although a bit more wouldn't hurt :)
Lovely exposure, colors, BG and great deatil. Congratulations Juan!

[Indranil Sircar]

Excellent in all respect. The most I love about it is the exposure. Amazing details and colors.

[Steve Maxson]

Excellent sharpness and detail plus a nice pose and a great background, Juan. My only comment is the slanted horizon reflected in the eye - although the bird's head looks perfectly level, the slanted horizon suggests to me that some rotation could be applied. :)

[Mike Milicia]

Beautiful portrait! Excellent pose/head angle and amazing detail!
Very nicely done!

Agree a bit more on the left may be an improvement.
I'm seeing a bit of a yellow cast. Might try adding some blue and see what you think.

[Fabs Forns]

Terrific head portrait, sharp as tack and with beautiful light and detail in the plumage. Got to love the lens, I agree :)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great portrait of this bird. I like the soft light, details and BG.

[Ilija Dukovski]

Great sharpness for a handheld 500mm + 1.4TC.
Nicely done! Great white/gray combo on the bird...

[Stu Bowie]

Juan, excellent exposure, and this is pin sharp. I like the pose, and the detail in this, is amazing. Another vote for a bit more room on the left.

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

I am always happy to see Nikkor lens in action. This is another example of the outstanding performance.
Regarding the composition I would add a bit more room to the left side as bill is too close to the frame. OK, I understand the reason of this close crop :) Sharpness is there for sure.

Szimi

[Juan Aragonés]

Thank you all for the comments and suggestions. Definitively I will add more room to the left as many of you suggested :-)