Secretarybird Portrait

[Dave Barnes]

Image captured in the Kgalagadi National Park.
Camera Model Name Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
ISO Speed 400
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/3200
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation +2/3

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool portrait, I like the raised crest, sharpness, open bill and BG. Great to see the shadows of the eyelashes in the eye.

[Tony Whitehead]

Lovely portrait, Dave. I love the skin colours and textures and the plumage details. Some selective eye work may be worth trying and the OOF grass stalk in front of the bird should clean up easily. Open beak really adds to the hot feel.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Exquisite details. Loved the bird, the DOF and the sharpness a lot. Liked the tight comp. as well. Big congrats.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Nice portrait Dave; had it not been for Tony, I would have missed the grass. But to me that's no big deal to stay. Love the head plumes, really cool showing of this species. Congrats!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Excellent portrait Dave!! I love the comp with the flaring head plumes pointing towards the top and ULC. Superb details, and exposure is spot-on.

[Isak Pretorius]

Very nice Dave. What I like here is the composition and hair blowing in the wind!! Catchlight gives it life!

[Ted Willcox]

Neat portrait, nice composition, and to boot, sharp as a tack!
Ted

[stuart wanuck]

very nice too bad these guys are not in florida colors great and detail good congrats!

[Aidan Briggs]

This one killer. The light is a bit harsh but the pose, sharpness, and perfect head turn back with the open beak makes this one spectacular.

[paul leverington]

Splendid Dave!! I'd remove the grass thing in front of the breast area. Sweet eye movement thru-out. Very successful work!

Paul

[Stu Bowie]

Dave, lovely pose, and I like the light, detail and colours. You nailed the sharpness here, together with the soft colour of the BG. NTS.

[Dave Barnes]

Thanks to all for looking and for comments, they are all appreciated.

[Morkel Erasmus]

great portrait of this quirky bird Dave. well done. I like the idea of playing with the eye some...

[Krijn Trimbos]

A really lovely portrait Dave! Love the HA, the open beak, the head feathers and sharpness. Well done!

[Dave Barnes]

Thanks Krijn and Morkel for your comments, they are appreciated.

[Betsie Storm]

Beautiful portrait, Dave- I have been trying to get good eye contact with one of them for a long time, always seem to end up in harsh light with the face turned away.....well captured!

[Dave Barnes]

Thanks Betsie, appreciated.