Still will keep

[Alfred Forns]

This one has a wrong head angle but will keep since I like it !! A good example of one I did not noticed at first since it was the furthest thing form my mind. Imagine I like looking at the good things in the image first and get an overall feel !!

Comments welcome and much appreciated !!

Nikon D3
600 VR 1.7X
f 8.0 1/2500 sec
ISO 400
Av - 1 1/3

[Dave Mills]

Hi Al, In this instance the HA doesn't really bother me. I feel the image is strong enough to lessen that slight head deviation. Beautiful light,detail, wing position,backround and positioning within the frame...

[Bill Dix]

Beautiful wing position, outstretched legs, position in the frame, and lovely bg. Well exposed. Sure, a bit of head turn and a catchlight would have put it over the top, but still a keeper. On my screen there seems to be a bit of glow around the wings.

[Harshad Barve]

Beautiful pose by bird and killer BG , Big time keeper for me
TFS

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

I like your image, Al. The HA doesn't bother me a bit. I also see the glow that Bill mentions.

[Ken Lassman]

I like it also Al...we can always find something that might be a little bit better. The HA doesn't detract from the image.. and the wing position and detail against that awesome BG makes it a keeper for sure. In addition, for me, as a newcomer, is the fact you nailed this with a 600mm lense and a 1.7X TC....big WOW from my perspective....these Stilts are like lightning on a fly by.

[Desmond Chan]

I think sometimes it's better to be just an average Joe looking at photographs. Then he/she could simply enjoy nice photographs such as this one and does not have to worry about about that teeny-tiny bit of angle off that only some serious photographers would notice. I have a feeling they are happier persons than many photographers are :)

Actually, I think it's the body angle that is off. The head of the bird is angling exactly where it is heading :D

[Troy Lim]

HA could be better but if I could get a shot like this one, I would be happy.
A lot of people often time are so into the HA so much they don't focus on the overall image. Birds do not always fly towards or look at us. I like it, plus killer BG.
Only nit is, I see halo around the bird.

[Stuart Hill]

Would be a keeper for me any day! A personal thing but maybe a tad too much room on the right or not enough on the left? Balanced out at the moment by the copyright text but hide the text and feels slightly unbalanced?

regards.
Stu.

[arash_hazeghi]

beautiful pose and BG Al, stilts fly fast!!!

[WIlliam Maroldo]

Interesting point made by Desmond, and I often feel jaded by noticing stuff that I wouldn't even consider, if I didn't know better! Although HA is one example, noise is another that most people hardly notice, but once you are aware of it there is no way to ignore it.
This image has a head angle that appears to be slightly away, or perhaps it is parallel to the sensor, which I consider perfectly acceptable, but the rest of the bird's angle makes it simply appear to be that way. In any case it is not pointed the way the bird is flying, and just doesn't seem right, and I would consider it a flaw.
There is a considerable shadow/highlight halo around the bird as well. Although I am pretty accepting of most head angles, I always immediately delete images that have the bird looking away, unless of course there is something in the image to explain this, like something he is looking at. regards~Bill

[stuart wanuck]

love the image those guys are hard to catch good shooting!

[manishkshukla]

How does one capture a BIF with a 600 times 1.7x? I guess I will learn with time :)
Is it just me imagining? Or there is a halo around the wings? This could be natural. TFS!