Snail kite calling

[Alfred Forns]

From the banding session this morning papa bird letting his feelings known as the volunteers closed in on the nest. As Fabs mentioned they reacted strongly to the truck, they know the vehicle !!!! Later the volunteers told us the birds know the photographers and don't mind us being there since we are not a threat ... makes me feel better !!!!
btw I feel these are about as difficult to capture since even a perfect exposure is not going to do it, just the right light hitting the bird is a must !!!

Comments welcome and much appreciated


Canon 1DMk3
500 f4.0 IS 1.4X
f 8.0 1/2500
manual + 1 2/3 off sky
ISO 1250

[Nancy A Elwood]

Al in a perfect world all the beak would be in the clear, BUT I would love this in my files!!! The expression is priceless!! VERY strong image! Love the details.

Nancy

[Bill Foxworthy]

A fine underwing image Al. Position perfect in frame and a delight to behold. Just the head needs to clear to be near perfect but I would take this in a instant. My type of image.

[stuart wanuck]

very nice could not hope for a better expression well done

[Keith Carver]

Love everything about this one, Al, even the square format - it somehow works in this case. Beautiful lighting, and capture of that bird's ferocity!

[Connie Mier]

The exposure looks great, I am amazed at your ISO setting. If you used ISO620, would the 1 stop down make a noticeable difference in dof if you went to f5.6?

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Connie

This is just cropped for proportion so the added dof helped a little but don't think its critical. A larger crop would not be critical at all due to the distance to the bird. Do shoot wide open lots of times The ISO for the MK3 is clean enough I feel comfortable using it and on overcast days loosing lots of light !!

[Arthur Morris]

Spectacular pose, EXP, calling posture, tail spread, SH, and those long talons. Just a killer.

What are the volunteers doing???

[Fabs Forns]

What are the volunteers doing???

They were banding the two chicks. Check out this link:

http://birdphotographers.net/forums/...ad.php?t=42314

[Alfred Forns]

... and one of the chicks got a transmitter !!!!

[Art Kornienko]

Wow sure is a beauty Alfred, super capture. Sure would be ice to know your pp steps, most of your shots almost look like fine paintings.

[Alfred Forns]

Art this one was processed a little different ... used Topaz adjust entirely and its first time trying First applied mild contrast pop then enhance contrast ... was surprised with results :) btw both are presets !!!

In PS all I did was selective color Added two points of black to the neutral and sharpened !!! Will need to look at Topaz closer !!!

[Brian Barcelos]

Love this one Al, he really looks like he means business! His eye really pulls you in here. Excellent.

Brian

[Kiran Poonacha]

mean pose and those talons add well to the frame.. congrats..

[Stu Bowie]

Superb banking angle, great detail and exposure from the underwings, and the open beak adds. I would darken the sky a bit.

[Adams Serra]

Hi All,
Beautiful picture, nice wing position and check out those talons.

[Marion Ehrlich]

Outstanding image, powerful pose, perfect composition! Congrats!
Greetings,
Marion

[Simon Bennett]

Supper pose and exposure control, very crisp presentation too.

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Al,
Just Super!!! Killer light and angle!