Took this shot in town the other morning when winter was in full force here (and by that I mean that we get about -5 degrees Celcius on the thermometer early mornings, but it goes up to about 14 degrees Celcius by midday - for all you Northern Hemisphere'ites :))
I wish I had gotten the whole of the feet in. I was on a knoll, the bird was skittish and I was on foot and uncamouflaged - he flew up shortly after this shot (and @ 1.5fps I didn't get the takeoff - will have to get that 7D ;)). I like the light and the way it shows the iridescence.
Your comments much appreciated...
Techs:
Canon 1000D with 100-400mm L IS USM
f7.1 @ 1/800 SS @ ISO 400
Exp +0.3
Nice looking bird I like that touch of red on the beak and wish for a bit more of that red. The colors look good except for the green grass just over his back. Might be able to clone that out as its the only non-beige grass in the background. The iridescent wings are really nice.
105-110 degrees in Phoenix - -I would love to get a bit of that New Hampshire chill .
I like the look-back pose and sharpness. The head reminds me a little of White Storks. I wish the light were less harsh and would tone down the highlights on the wing.
On first look it reminded me of our Florida Glossy Ibis but I thought the bill more like that of the stork. Can't the birds make up their minds down under? :) Very Good image.
Morkel, I wonder if lightening the face and eye would help. Otherwise, tack sharp and interesting to see such bird, as Peter mentioned, looks like a florida bird.
As mentioned, the light seems harsh, shadows on the face. If you haven't already, I would try a slight reduction in contrast, or perhaps just a reverse S curve adjustment. As Connie mentioned, I would try to bring up the shadows on the face a bit. I know you can't see the feet, but if you have any more canvas on the bottom, I would add it back in, room for the infamous 'virtual feet'.
These birds are very common in urban areas in South Africa, and they usually make a very loud racket (a sound that goes "ah-ah-ahaaaa-ahaaaa") early in the mornings or when disturbed. Most people find them annoying (especially if they nest in your yard and you want to sleep late on weekends :))
Here is a version with face shadows lightened, green grass cloned out, reverse s-curve applied (Very lightly) and some canvas added for 'virtual feet' (although the feet are pretty much level with where the bird treads on the grass).
Wish the eye of lighter or something done.
Like the green grass clump removed from the repost.
The bg isn't that appealing and maybe just a vertical or the bird itself--all a matter of opinion.
I like the lightened face. I do like the slightly greater room at the bottom, but because it is out of focus, might consider toning down the luminosity a bit to reduce its impact.
The repost shows a different color balance than the original post, and to my eye has a greenish cast, esp. when I compare the two images side by side. I reset the black point on the eye, which removed the color cast.
Noisy buggers, but wonderful iridescence in good light. Although a little tight on the right, I like how he fills the frame. Good job on the repost mate.
Hadeda Ibis
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