Kestrel at last light

[Doug Brown]

A couple of years ago, I caught a brief glimpse of this handsome Kestrel at the Bosque del Apache while waiting for the Cranes to return home for the night. This is another image that I found while cleaning out my hard drive recently; not sure why I never processed it.



Canon 1D Mark III, 500mm + 1.4x, f/8, 1/1250, ISO 400, hand held

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the light, eye contact and wing position and might tone down the highlights some more.

[Randy Stout]

Doug:

Lovely light, highlights OK on my monitor. Nice wing position. It almost looks like he is peeking at you.

It is always a joy to find a 'lost treasure'

Randy

[Connie Mier]

Wow, he's looking right at you.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

That is one nice BIF Doug. Just one question that comes from not being familiar with this species. What is the dark line running along its crown and nape? Just appears unnatural to the uneducated like me. Thanks mate. :)

[Michael Zajac]

I like the wing position and the warm light.Nice eye contact.

[Doug Brown]

It must be a shadow Akos, because it's in the RAW file and it's not part of the plumage.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Ah, as I thought. Would you think then that cloning out that shadow is a good idea for the overall aesthetics? I did and it looks fine because there is really no far wing visible and I reckon most people wouldn't even notice. See attachment.

[Aidan Briggs]

Nice light, wing position, and exposure. Shadow doesn't bug me, bit the image looks as thought the original was a tad soft.

[Aidan Briggs]

Lovely light, wing position and exposure. Shadow doesn't bug me, but the image looks as though maybe the original was a tad soft.

[Stephen Stephen]

Doug I'm glad that you re-discovered this image. I like the eye contact and the shadow doesn't bother me.

[Rohan Kamath]

loved the light and eye contact here...

[Harshad Barve]

lovely light , expo, sharpness and BG , I liked it as posted
TFS

[James Salywoda]

A tough bird to shoot in flight I would say its a keeper until you get something better. ;) I do like the wing position.