Kestrel ballet....

[Ofer Levy]

1D Mark 3, Canon 300 f2.8, x2, 1/1000, f5.6, iso 640, car as a hide

Just got back from a 10 days trip in Israel. My good buddy Doron Hoffman took me to what turned to be one of my best bird photography sessions ever. We had a blast with a pair of Common Kesrtels who started nesting on Dorron father's property.
This is one of my favourites. It was a bit windy and this handsome male had to balance himself on the thorny perch and gave us some nice photo opportunities.

Very basic PP - levels, contrast etc.

Cropped from a horizontal - full hight.

[Randy Stout]

Ofer:
A stunning picture. Lovely dorsal view, nice colors on bird, very interesting perch.

To my eye, the BG is over saturated a bit, but you were there.

Interesting how the bird is contorting to avoid being stuck by the perch.

Very, very nice.

Randy

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool pose, good sharpness, perch and BG. I would only tone down the highlights on the perch.

[Ofer Levy]

Thanks for your comments guys!
Randy, I see what you mean regarding the BG. However, I didn't want to de-saturate it as this is a true representation of what was there. Its a very good winter in Israel so far with plenty rain so the grass is in this rich green colours.

[Joe Brown]

Excellent shot. Great detail and sharpness, beautiful colours. My only comment would be to crop a bit off the top.

Joe

[david cramer]

Nice implied motion and great detail. The BG is distracting, even if it is a true likeness. But overall a wonderful image.

[arash_hazeghi]

Mazel tov Ofer, I love the open wing position and eye contact you got here, sharpness is very good too. Perch is cool, BG color while realistic is a bit competing with the kestrel. Very well done.

[Ofer Levy]

Thanks for your comments guys!
Here is a repost with the BG selectively desaturated - please let me know what you think.
Cheers,

Ofer

[Dave Leroy]

A really lovely photo. I especially like the very nice wing psoition. Well done on the timing. After looking at each and going back and forth several times my preference is for the first. The second post looks duller and less alive to me. Dave

[arash_hazeghi]

The second post looks super to me Ofer, very beautiful.

[Callie de Wet]

Just a stunning display and I prefer the 1st, it looks very much the same as here when we have full sunshine on similar BG's.

[niranjan sant]

lovely action,and the repost looks even better to me,wish legs were visible though

[Justin Reznick]

Incredible Ofer! The background is perfection and a brilliant color to contrast with the colors of the kestrel. Wing position is fantastic and the sharpness is spot on. Truly special!

[Harshad Barve]

Excellent image and my choice is OP;)
TFS

[Gerard Satherley]

Superb image Ofer. I don't mind the first post. Great wing position, eye contact and details.

[Mark Dumbleton]

Repost looks better, but I didnt mind the first either. Super image - lovely pose, light, colour and sharpness.

[Stu Bowie]

Super pose Ofer, and I like the detail and sharpness. Both versions work for me. Well captured.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Ofer, beautiful pose. I do like the repost more. The BG color might be more realistic in the first post as you mentioned. But it does compete with the bird. In the second, it doesnt and the bird really pops. I like the the contrast of thorns and feathers.

[Morkel Erasmus]

the green was a bit over the top for me in the sense of taking attention from the lovely raptor, but your repost hits all the right switches Ofer. great shot!

[Danny Laredo]

Ofer, welcome back :)
too bad we did not get a chance to meet.
Glad to hear you had a good time and I'm sure looking forward to seeing your images from the trip.

This one is a stunner.

[Kiran Poonacha]

loved the pose and colour on this ofer..

[Blake Shadle]

Hi Ofer, I'm not really seeing where the background is "distracting". It's actually quite an amazing background that makes your subject stand out very well. Very sharp and well exposed, composed. Good work.

[Kris Mortensen]

I was at the Wildlife Festival in Titusville FL, and heard alot about the birds and wildlife in Israel, glad to see there are beautiful birds there!