Are You Busy Saturday Morning?

[Arthur Morris]

This young Reddish Egret in fresh juvenal plumage was photographed on a Hooptie Deux trip last Tuesday morning, the same trip on which I got my baby spoonbill head portrait (see same here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=39911). This photograph was--after careful stalking--created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens, the 1.4X II TC, and the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/100 sec. at f/8 with tripod legs sunk into sand and the tripod head and tripod collar all locked down.

I will be joining James Shadle on the Hooptie Deux again this Saturday and he have room for two or three local photographers. We are hoping that the two baby spoonbills are still in the mangroves. The weather forecast is the best in weeks! If you would like to join us and enjoy two teachers for the price of one, contact James by e-mail at james@birdphotographers.net or me by phone on Friday at 863-692-0906. Lunch will be on me.

Don't be shy; all comments welcome.

Almost forgot, which image do you prefer and why, pane #1 or pane #2?

[Arthur Morris]

This is the same image with some BKGR work. Which do you prefer and why?

[Jay Gould]

Hi, I like the second image with the softer RHS. The darkness in the first image is a bit of a close "frame".

Sorry, but I can't manage to fly over for Saturday morning - wish I could!! Cheers, Jay

[Ramon M. Casares]

Clearly the second one looks better, but honestly I would've only brightened those greens a bit, I don't think they needed much blur or anything as the BG looked preety good in the OP. Nice image with a terrific light and great detail and comp. Congratulations Artie, how I wish I could be there this weekend :D .
If I may, this would've been my PP choice. Some clean up in the bill, brighten the green in the BG a little and re-work the eye so the catchlight looks more like a cloudy day catchlight :)

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

HI Artie,
Second for me as well, less emphasis on the edge greens. Wonderful comp and expert execution. Cannot say more. :)

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Ramon. I like your version too. Oftentimes there are many pleasing and saleable versions of a single image.

[Mike Tracy]

Nice image in camera. I like Ramon"s version with the exception of the loss in sharpness and darkness at the tip of his bill.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Nice image in camera. I like Ramon"s version with the exception of the loss in sharpness and darkness at the tip of his bill.

Mike, it was a quicky :D

[Ilija Dukovski]

I like the 2nd one better too.
I wish I could fly on Sat:)

I really like the plumage detail here, and the perfect HA...

[Steve Maxson]

I like the second version because of the smoother background, but I prefer Ramon's treatment of the eye. :)

[Stu Bowie]

Super portrait Artie, and love the softer colours and detail on him. Your repost with the blended BG on the right, just works so much better. In your OP, that same part of the BG jumps at you, and is distracting. Sorry, cant make saturday. A bit far at such short notice. Would love to visit your country though. Saw a program on those freight trains that travel across the midwest. Its frightening how vast your country is.

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Staurt, I sorta like the first one better but Linda Robbins made me create the smoothed out one. As I said above, I do like Ramon's version too.

BTW, it takes more than 13 hours of straight driving to get from Key West to Pensacola, and both are in the state of Florida! And 12 hours just to drive across the state of TX. Yes, it is a big country. Just before my wife died in 994 we drove twice around the country in a small motor home.

[Doug Brown]

I prefer the second version, but I might like something in between the two even better.