Ruff

[Richard Unsworth]

Taken back at the end of January this year; very cold
hope you like
NR Topaz, USM
1/250 f8 ISO 800
40d 100-400@310

Lower not possible hide window ledge in the way

[Ben_Sadd]

A nice looking bird and an interesting pose, although composition wise I find it a little too centred. I find the legs a little too saturated and would tone them down a little.

Did you run NR on the bird? The feathers on the body look unnaturally smooth.

[Arthur Morris]

Great bird and an interesting pose. Yes, you could not have gotten lower but it sure would have helped. White tail and legs show clipping. Definitely needs lot more room right.

[Richard Unsworth]

Hi

Reworked back to CR2

cropped as suggested

I increased sat in OP left it alone this time

thanks Artie and Ben (very low NR was run on the bird in Topaz and now Artie knows and will give me a kicking :-))

[Arthur Morris]

Though you overdid the de-SAT a bit I like this version much better. The extra space helps a lot.

[Richard Unsworth]

Thank you for your input as usual

hope all is well on the other side of the pond -and thanks very much for the crap weather lol

[Arthur Morris]

My seven cents: Vibrance +100. SAT +2. Darkened the blacks and midtones a bit. Linear Burn on white at base of bill. Sharpened. Cropped but wish that I had even more room on our right. You gotta keep the bird back in the frame....

All in all there was a pretty good image in there. Do you have Digital Basics?

Lastly, even though your file was tiny IQ looked pretty good.

[Richard Unsworth]

Yes Arthur I do have DB

Nice work

I had a go following your lead with more space to right

No NR on bird this time

[Bill Dix]

Great pose. Last repost is a vast improvement.

[Paul Lagasi]

I think a low angle would have really helped, I like the last repost where you adjusted the saturation and added room....having said all that, I'd take any of these images of a Ruff, I been over the pond 3 times and I still haven't been able to see one....

[Ben_Sadd]

Good work on the last repost. Shame about the angle, but I know well that the UK has many great birding places but they are frequently not perfect for the photographer. Was this at a RSPB reserve?

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Last post is such a great improvement and all advice was very beneficial I see. I like your last post but with just a teeny bit more room on the left IMO. I like the image overall.

[Dan Busby]

A great little lesson here folks. Richard, the last post looks terrific - looks like the NR work robbed you of needed detail.

[Richard Unsworth]

Ben

Not RSPB actually a place called Martin Mere WWT.

You are dead right I seldom get chance in the UK to get low on any shot and although there are stunning amounts/varieties of birs on the reserves, they are often very distant.
For examle I see Marsh Harriers , Buzzards, Kestrels very frequently but seldom closer than 100m