African Spoonbill Landing

[Morkel Erasmus]

I got this shot this afternoon as the sun set after knock-off time. I'd like to know if this works? I like the pose and exposure, but own nit would be that the beak gets lost at the tip, and the perch is a bit busy. Cropped about 35% off the original image.

Your comments will be greatly appreciated.

Canon 1000D with 100-400 L IS USM
f6.3 @ 1/1000 SS @ ISO 400

[Arthur Morris]

Good: relatively sharp, great bird, nice landing pose with wings back.

Bad: Ugly white-washed perch. Head angled away. Bill is either very dirty or has some serious bill shine... Distant o-o-f bushes: mildly distracting.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for the feedback Artie

1. whitewashed perch - are you referring to the loads of excrement left by the 200 Sacred Ibis who roost on this island at night? :) or do you refer to some error in metering from my side? (still getting to grips with some of the lingo)

2. head angle - so from your comments on this post and my previous one I am assuming a head that is angled perpendicular to my point of view yet still having eye contact and even possible a catchlight does not qualify as angled towards me? as opposed to a head angle that is blatantly turned away from me? :confused:

thanks for your feedback and patience. I am here to learn from all you legends on this site :)

[Arthur Morris]

Mork,

re:

thanks for the feedback Artie

YAW sir!

1. whitewashed perch - are you referring to the loads of excrement left by the 200 Sacred Ibis who roost on this island at night? or do you refer to some error in metering from my side? (still getting to grips with some of the lingo)

To the doo-doo, aka excrement :) :D

2. head angle - so from your comments on this post and my previous one I am assuming a head that is angled perpendicular to my point of view yet still having eye contact and even possible a catchlight does not qualify as angled towards me? as opposed to a head angle that is blatantly turned away from me? :confused:

Take a closer look: even though the bird is angled slightly towards you (good), the head is angled about 3 or 4 degrees away from you. Ideal would be 2-3 degrees turned towards you, or in this case a bit more as the bird is angling towards you. There is a great thread in ER with examples.

thanks for your feedback and patience. I am here to learn from all you legends on this site :)

:p I am a legendary pain in the butt....

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for the clarification.

re:
doo-doo: what can you do-do? at least it's au-naturalle ;) I'm guessing try and frame the comp without it or wait for a bird to land on a less 'slippery' perch

HA: my bad :)

pain in the butt: not nearly - I need people being honest about my photos otherwise I'll never grow.

It's almost 1h30 here and I gotta get up for work in a few hours. You have a good one sir!

[James Salywoda]

Nice landing pose Morkel hey what can you do about the bird droppings really nothing still a very nice shot....

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the landing pose and soft light. Adding to the other comments, the eye looks very bright, maybe you could fix this.

[Stu Bowie]

I like the landing pose, and well timed just before touch down. Whites look good, and sharp where it counts. I would maybe have cropped from the bottom to get rid of some of the busy BG, and added to the right to form a horizontal comp. Just my 2c Morkel. Cheers.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for your comments James, Axel & Stu. I will try a different comp and pike down the eye.

[Mark Dumbleton]

Nice pose of the bird Morkel! Artie nailed this crit on this. Keep up the good effort bud!

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Mark! just for interest' sake I reworked this shot with a horizontal comp, would love to hear your thoughts. I've cloned out some of the worst dirty branches as well.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I think your horizontal repost addresses some points. Congrats. I would just sharpen the bird a touch more. I like the pose very much! :)

[Stu Bowie]

To me, this works so much better. Grear job Morkel. As you have cropped this, I would just get rid of the twigs sticking up below the bill.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for the feedback Stu & Akos

[Mark Dumbleton]

Horizontal crop does work better IMO.