Razorbill Portrait

[Axel Hildebrandt]

This is one from last year that I just processed. I photographed this bird on Machias Island, the light was on the harsher side. The BG is a lichen-covered rock. I find the shape of the head and bill amazing.



1D3, 500f4, 1/320s, f/11, EC -0.33, ISO 400

[Rene Quenneville]

Beautiful portrait with great details.
I feel the light direction brings too much shadow to the eye area.

[Stephen Earle]

Beautiful bird and I think you managed subtlety despite the light conditions.

[Randy Stout]

Axel:

An amazing looking bird, they always remind me of hot rod cars for some reason. I couldn't resist tweaking the shadows a bit.

NX2, lightened the shadowed areas, another round of USM on the eye.

The image has it in there. Didn't seem to run into noise problems as I brought it up. The whites in the white streak towards the eye don't show much detail, but they didn't in the original either.

Just an option.

Randy

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Thanks, Randy! I like the lighter eye. There was not much texture in the white stripe to begin with. It is not cropped much, the bird was right in front of the blind. Softer light would have been nice, seems to be a good excuse to go back. :)

[Randy Stout]

Axel:

Sounds like a good enough excuse to me!

Randy

[Fabs Forns]

I love the head on portrait and the beautiful eye.
I prefer the original, the repos't looks washed out to me.

[Larry Warfield]

I like the shot. Did you use a fill-flash to get the contrast between eye and face? They are both so dark, it's a challenge. You captured it well.

PS: Did you notice that when they yawn, that the inside of their mouth is yellow? I wish I could have gotten a good shot with their mouth open.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the shot. Did you use a fill-flash to get the contrast between eye and face? They are both so dark, it's a challenge. You captured it well.

PS: Did you notice that when they yawn, that the inside of their mouth is yellow? I wish I could have gotten a good shot with their mouth open.

Thanks, Larry! I did not use fill flash, just curves in PP. I was hoping he would yawn because the inside of their mouth looks so beautiful, but no luck. I guess that is another excuse to go up there again. :)

[Mital Patel]

axel fantastic shot and randy's re-post works well.
i would say keeping something pending is a next level for sure and keeps you busy in the subject to get more and more :)

truely gr8 image.

[Lana Hays]

Axel
It's a wonderful portrait and I love the up close look with all the details. I do like the repost in that it adds more detail in the darker area. Machias Island has been on my list of "to do" for some time. Any particular time that is good to go?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Axel
It's a wonderful portrait and I love the up close look with all the details. I do like the repost in that it adds more detail in the darker area. Machias Island has been on my list of "to do" for some time. Any particular time that is good to go?

Thanks, Lana! It's good from now until mid-July or so if I remember correctly.

[Mark Dumbleton]

Stunning looking bird - like the repost with brighter eye. Very well done on rendering the detail on the bird here Axel!

[Stu Bowie]

An amazing looking bird Axel. Like the angled pose, and before looking at Randy's repost, I would have lightened the eye. Thanks for sharing. Where about exactly is Machias Island?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

An amazing looking bird Axel. Like the angled pose, and before looking at Randy's repost, I would have lightened the eye. Thanks for sharing. Where about exactly is Machias Island?

Thanks, Stuart! Machias Island is off the Maine shore close to Canada.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks Axel.

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

Very nice image Axel. Knowing the bird's feature I still tend to love the original better than the overlightened repost. Fantastic eye for sure.

Szimi

[Juan Aragonés]

Wow, love the textures on the bill and the fantastic rendering of the plumage pattern. The light is a bit strong to my taste and the whites seems to be very bright (I am sure that they are not hot). Perhaps the head turn is not the best but I really love this portrait.