Mr. Snowy says......

[William Malacarne]

I'm gonna get you....

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Image Date: 2011-03-30 08:14:30 +0000
Focal Length: 500mm
Focus Distance: 45.7m
Aperture: f/6.3
Exposure Time: 0.0025 s (1/400)
ISO equiv: 400
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Partial
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No
Orientation: Normal

Bill

[John Goldman]

Too bad the front bird is OOF. Higher ISO, smaller aperture.

[David Stephens]

Wonderful pose with that beautiful, raised, yellow foot.

I agree about the front bird looking a little OOF, so you might have bumped the ISO up to 800 and stopped down a little more. I think I'd crop this one square to focus on the couple and show less of the OOF BG toward the right.

[Linwood Ferguson]

Agreed, if the OOF bird was in the back it may be better, but with it in the foreground it draws the eye too strongly.

I had a wonderful shot that was similar of a reddish egret and same problem, I tried blurring it more, recropping, just finally gave up.

By the way, great color on the foliage, that makes a terrific backdrop for the white birds, which were very well exposed.

[John Chardine]

Nice idea but I agree with Linwood that to pull this off, both birds need to be in focus. I like the habitat and the great pose on the lefthand bird.

[Levina de Ruijter]

If you clone out the OOF bird and crop a bit tighter, you'd have a great image. Wonderful pose and lovely background.

[William Malacarne]

Removed the OOF front bird

Bill