JUVENILE BLACK NECKED STILT IN HABITAT

[gary ellwein]

Nikon D200, Nikkor 200-400mm with 1.4TC. Front lit at sunset with clear skies. Stilt feeding with a lot of irratic movement. f5.6, 1/1250, iso 200, matrix with focal length 550mm. PS levels, curves with minor crop off the top. Removal of reeds behind and to the left of the stilt. ( removed some habitat ). C & C appreciated.

[Jim Buescher]

The pose of the bird is good with nice detail and exposure. You did a good job on removal of the reeds but the image looks a little unnatural with a reflection of something that isn't there (I noticed it as soon as I saw the thumbnail) I would either clone out the reflection of the missing reed or crop out most of the reflections all together.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Gary - I would lose the reflection all together - simply not strong enough to warrant inclusion - IMHO!
More space up front in you have it would also improve - as presented gives the feeling that the bird is concentrating on something just out of the frame - which leads my eye out of the frame and not back into the image.
Exposure looks good and good fine feather detail - might sharpen the eye just a tad. HA MIGHT just be marginally away - dont think it hurts too much here though.
Keep em coming ;)

[Thanaboon Jearkjirm]

Exposure looks good, the bird also look sharp with good details, also interesting pose. Agree that the reflection look unnatural, might work on it or just crop it off completely. I think a see a small artifact in front of the head, might just be my eye or PP work.

[gary ellwein]

Hi Gary - I would lose the reflection all together - simply not strong enough to warrant inclusion - IMHO!
More space up front in you have it would also improve - as presented gives the feeling that the bird is concentrating on something just out of the frame - which leads my eye out of the frame and not back into the image.
Exposure looks good and good fine feather detail - might sharpen the eye just a tad. HA MIGHT just be marginally away - dont think it hurts too much here though.
Keep em coming ;)

Lance thanks for the prompt reply. Will clone out phantom shadows on repost. This slice of humble pie is rather tasty. Doubt if I'll make this mistake again. Would you be so kind as to expand on the techniques used in selectively sharpening the eye or direct me to an appropriate web site.

Gary

[gary ellwein]

Jim thanks for prompt reply. A glaring rookie error. Doubt if I'l do this again. An excellent forum for the serious beginner. I will keep some habitat in the repost. l

[gary ellwein]

Thanks to Jim and Lance phantom shadows noted.

[Jim Buescher]

Nice repost Gary. It's a "cleaner" more balanced image that still shows some of the BN Stilt's habitat

[Bob Miller]

HI Gary! Repost looks good!