African Spoonbills

[Ken Watkins]

Taken on Lake Manze, Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania, 29th August 2010.

EOS 1D MkIV

500mm F4 IS hand held

F6.3, ISO 400, 1/2500, EV +0.33

[Randy Stout]

Ken:

I like the similar poses, good eye contact, feeding activity. I am not seeing a lot of detail in the whites on the top of their back and head, but I am on a back up laptop, so can't make a critical call there.
I have the impression that it needs a bit of CW rotation?

Cheers

Randy

[Stu Bowie]

Ken, I can see detail in the whites, but maybe a little more TLC will bring more out. I too like the similar poses, and agree a slight CW rotation will work. Great detail on their bills BTW.

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks for the comments, seems I missed out on the rotation. I'll have a go at bringing out the details in the whites, they were not blown so maybe there is something more there.

[Randy Stout]

Ken:

Again, my white comment has to be taken with a grain of salt, since I am on an old backup laptop.
But, based on what I am seeing, I think running a layer mask with multiply as the blend mode on the whites, or possibly linear burn, might tease out some more detail.

Cheers

Randy

[Troy Lim]

At 6.3, getting both birds in focus, how far were you?

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks for the great suggestions, I think I hurried my original too much.

Troy,
Not to sure about distance but certainly at most 15 metres, I have selectively sharpened the head on the nearest Spoonbill.

Here is a repost, using multiply which I think has resulted in a vast improvement. Thanks:)