Adult Bateleur

[Dave Barnes]

The light angle was not great and there was nothing that I could do as I could not drive off road or get out the vehicle as this was in a National Park, but I thought I would share.

Camera Model Name Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Av( Aperture Value ) 7.1
ISO Speed 400
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/500
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation +1

[Ian McHenry]

Hi Dave
Beautiful eagle with nice head angle.
Possibly a bit too much space on the right ??
Cheers: Ian Mc

[David Fletcher]

Glad you did share too. Own critique covered but this is tack sharp, and the details are superb. Not sure about the lrc rock, but nothing major. Pretty good Bateleur image. Well done.

[Daniel Belasco]

Thanks for sharing this interesting bird.
You covered everything.

[Randy Stout]

Dave:

The light angle is the issue as you pointed out. You can bring up some shadow detail with shadow recovery, and do some selective lightening on the face. I tried it, and it is better, but still not as even as you might like.

I looked at the rock in LRC as David mentioned, but I think overall it helps balance the composition, and because its in the shadow, isn't too distracting.

A striking bird, hopefully the light will favor you next outing!

Are you not allowed to get out of your vehicle throughout the park, or just in certain areas?

Randy

[Dave Barnes]

Thanks guys.
Randy you are only allowed to get out in camp or at designated picnic sites due to the presence of predators.(lions, leopards, cheetah, hyena)
Randy I have done quit a bit of shadow recovery. even with an exposure comp of +1 there was no detail on the left of the bird.

[christopher galeski]

nice shot Dave,nice and sharp,like the comp,rock in lrc,bothers me a bit.great shot though. thanks.

[Peter Wallack]

Wonderful bird. I like everything except the shadow on the lowe wings as you and others have mentioned. I have used a select tool for such areas in my images/ feathered 20-40/ and then gone to Brightness/Contrast. Lightening washes out color so do make Saturation a next stop.

If this sounds too touch up for you, let me know if I can do it for you.

[Stu Bowie]

Dave, I like the look back pose, and overall, you have captured good detail. Light issue covered, and we all wish that our subjects would land in perfect places for that perfect shot. Pity, as these guys have amazing colours.

[Dr.Pranay Rao Juvvadi]

The sharpness and the details in the blacks are fantastic. I love the ruffled feathers on the nape and the scapulars.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the angle, eye contact and sharpness. If it were mine the rock on the right could go and I wish for a better light angle.

[Dave Barnes]

Thanks to all for looking and for comments. They are all appreciated.