First Bird of the Year

[Richard Waas]

This morning I went to Anhinga Trail and although there were not a lot of birds there were a few nice birds. Great Blue Heron, Wood Stork, Anhinga, Cormorants and this Osprey. I photographed this image at sunrise with my Canon 5D MK II. ISO 800, f/4.0, 1/3200 sec, EF500mm f/4.0L IS USM, Evaluative Metering, Auto Exposure, Auto WB, No Flash. This image was cropped because of the distance to the bird. Comments Welcome

[Gail Spitler]

The sharpness of the detail is superb; really like the perch combined with the blue sky bg. Might see what happens if you lighten the bird and the perch just a bit.
Lovely image, strong and dynamic
Cheers
Gail

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Great capture with lots of details. There was also a lot at Shark Valley today, mostly the same as the ones you saw, except for a couple red shoulder hawks, but no ospreys.

[Richard Waas]

Gail, I used Color Efex Pro, Darken/Lighten Center to lighten the bird and darken the perch, giving it a slight vignette effect on purpose. I didn't want the perch to take away from the bird. I guess personal taste. Also I didn't want to lighten the bird too much, it started to blow out the white feathers.

[Anita Rakestraw]

Glad to see your trip paid off. Really like the pose, with the head feathers ruffled a bit.

[Katie Rupp]

Hi Richard, this does have a bold look to it and I think I agree with Gail about wanting to see it with the perch lightened a bit.

[Richard Waas]

Here is a brightened version

[Lance Peters]

Hi Richard - lovely - think I would go with the OP.
Great HA and eye contact - some really nice detail in those feathers and love that eye.

Fine image :)

[Gus Cobos]

Mr. Waas,
We missed you today at Shark Valley...I like your composition and capture with the turned head pose. You have sharp details and a sharp eye. The color rendition is good...well done Sir...keep them coming...:cool:

[Gail Spitler]

Richard
On my monitor the brightened repost is nicer - not as contrasty as the original. Either way this is very nice
Cheers
Gail

[Kerry Perkins]

Richard, very nice capture and I think either version works fine. As you say, a matter of taste. I like the over-shoulder look and the detail on the feathers. Nicely done!

I'm a little curious about the high ISO in this situation. I'm assuming that you were hand-holding and wanted the shutter speed.

[Richard Waas]

Kerry, I was handholding a 500mm and it was heavy. I wanted to get a high shutter speed.

[Thanaboon Jearkjirm]

Very handsome pose, love the looking back HA, and the feather detail on the body. I might go for something between the original and the repose. I also see small light halo around the bird, maybe from shadow/highlight adjustment or maybe it's my imagination.