Turkey Vulture

[Axel Hildebrandt]

These guys usually don't win a lot of beauty contests but I liked the pose and BG. I was actually trying to photograph bobolinks but the farmer mowed the entire meadow the day before. Fortunately the juvenile bobolinks could already fly. I was wondering what the vultures were interested in and the farmer told me that he hit a skunk. In retrospect a higher ISO might have been a good idea.

1D3, 500f4, 1.4x, 1/640s, f/8, EC +0.67, ISO 400

[Aidan Briggs]

Nice banking pose and good exposure on the blacks. The vulture does appear a little soft, but that could just be me.

[Arthur Morris]

I like the DIAG. A crop from the bottom and a bit more contrast and SAT would likely improve it.

[Doug Brown]

Good self-critique Axel. A little more SS would have crisped things up nicely. I agree with Artie about cropping a little off the bottom. I like the story behind the photo.

[Stu Bowie]

I like the comp as is, and I think by trying to sharpen him a bit more will affect the IQ. Still, well captured.

[Mark Dumbleton]

Agree on more contrast and sharpening on the bird. Like the diagonal banking pose.

[Chris Kotze]

NC. Super angle and comp and a great BG.

[Morkel Erasmus]

nice angle, nits covered - lovely BG and exposure. that extra bit of SS would have nailed this sweetly

[Herb Houghton]

nice pose and angle. I agree with Art, a little sat will bring out the greens and blues in the BG.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Thanks for the suggestions! I reworked the image, I'm on my laptop right now and hope it looks better.

[Jay Gould]

Definitely like the repost!

[Rick Dobson]

Definitely sharper but I'm not convinced the BG did not suffer. I loved the soft pastels.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Repost is just light years better than the OP. Great pose, comp, light and BG.
Congratulations!

[Sabyasachi Patra]

I like the composition. Not always easy to get it in this pose in full frame. The sharpening in the repost is better.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi