Northern Black Korhaan (Female)

[Morkel Erasmus]

I took this portrait in the Kalahari last year. I blurred the BG some more to make the subject stand out.

All comments welcome!

Techs:
Canon 40D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 400mm
f5.6 @ 1/250 SS @ ISO-800
Exp +0.3

[Keith Carver]

Nice vertical portrait, Morkel. The bird looks just a little soft on my laptop, maybe could stand a couple rounds of light USM, would increase the pop even more.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Morkel, comp is very nice. Liked the head angle too. But looks like there is subject shake. Since you were already at the aperture and usable-iso limits, only thing you could have done is increase SS and underexpose. but underexpose at iso 800 on 40D means too much noise.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks, I noticed the apparent softness upon uploading - although it didn't look as soft during processing. My hand and the 100-400 have proven sharp at even 1/100 @ 400mm so I guess it might be bird movement ;)

Here is a version that's sharpened a bit more...

[Keith Carver]

Repost looks better...

[Fabs Forns]

I'm sure it was bird moving with low shutter speed. Eye looks sharp though.

[arash_hazeghi]

Like the pose and BG here Morkel but motion blur has softened details here. TFS

[Mark Dumbleton]

I like this Morkel! Like the detail on the bird. The only thing bothering me is the slight halo around the bird - not from Sharpening but from blurring the BG, where the edge of the bird has been caught in the blur too.

[Stu Bowie]

I like the colours and detail, and good job on the BG. The colours of the BG compliment the Korhaan nicely.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for the feedback guys. Mark I agree - I processed this a while ago and it was one of my first attempts at introducing additional BG blur :)