Blue Heron

[Peter Farrell]

I spent some time set up to get shots of a Belted Kingfisher but my only visitor was this GBH.
Sony A700, 70-400G @400mm, f8, 1/640, iso800. Overcast day. 75% of ff

[Julie Kenward]

Nicely seen, Peter! I think if this were mine, I'd take some off the bottom of the frame and add it to the top, still keeping the pano-type composition. Also, and I'm not sure about this, it feels a little undersaturated in color throughout the image. Did you do anything special to achieve this or is this the scene as you remember it?

[Stuart Hill]

Hi Peter, like the low angle and I think the HA police will be happy. Agree with Julie though about saturation. Also the head seems a bit 'contrasty'.

regards.
Stu.

[Grant Eldridge]

Hi Peter, I agree with Staurt and Julie about the saturation. Seems maybe the over contrast is around the face....maybe try bring down the exposure a bit in PP and see what that does for the image. Crop looks good to me...maybe a bit more pano but thats just my taste. Seems you have the same issue with Belted Kingfishers as me....I swear they know my truck and head for the hills the moment I pull up.

Keep em coming,
Grant

[Peter Farrell]

Thank you, Julie, Stuart and Grant. I have re-processed from the raw file based on your suggestions. I am still not 100% happy with the head.
Peter

[Grant Eldridge]

Hi Peter, I had a go at the original as well...just brought down the overall exposure and added some saturation. Also applied a small bit of overall noise reduction. You are right though, that head is hard to deal with.

[Stuart Hill]

Hi there, my attempt. Ran an inverse curve masked so only affects the head area. Selected light areas in the head and copied to new layer, layer set to linear burn. Increased top and ran NR.

regards.
Stu.