Small Pratincole Pair

[girisholeti]

This is the only frame I got in this pose, the crossed each other in the next frame. Hand held laying flat on the ground

Canon 7D, Canon 500 mm f4+1.4x TC, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/1600 Sec

Cloned out few bright spots on BG.

[John Chardine]

Outstanding image. Love the low angle, light and juxtaposition of the two exquisite birds (pratincoles are dream for birds for me, never seen them, yet!). I don't see how the image can be improved in any significant way.

[Mital Patel]

Girish,

This is simply winner here by the POV and the perfect birds one against another and that too in superb light.

You could have easily traded the SS by boosting Aperture to grab both in sharp focus if not at-least f/8 would have been better with tc.

Although you already did it. You have still room to enhance by selectively sharpen the right birds head specially eye and surrounding part shaken a bit.

I see a little faint selection halo that you might cut for bg NR that you can take care of .. Am sure you would notice it by now Bro.

Pls bear with me for asking too much on this extraordinary image you taken but i just thought to put it in grand category by this points to cover.

Cheers

[Stu Bowie]

Girish, your angle does work as is, as we are viewing at eye level. Shooting a little higher would have rid you of the OOF FG, but then the perspective would not have been ideal. I like the similar poses, and just love the colours of the BG.

[Sachin Saraf]

I agree with what Stuart said above...slightly higher and OOF FG could have been avoided but not sure if that was a possibility....but as is it is fantastic capture both the birds are equally sharp and well positioned...

It would be nice if you mention where you shoot your images...you guys (you and Mital) have been posting some fantastic bird images from India...Looking forward to see more.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Girish, one of the best pratincole shots I've seen. For starters, it is not easy to get them on the ground. And you got two in those poses at super-low angle...what a shot. Good job getting parallel to fit them within the DOF.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

WOW, awesome imageI really like it alot. The angle and dof are so perfect and the detail amazing as well. These two are so cute.

[Arthur Morris]

Girish-bhai, Did you do anything in Photoshop to the chin of the bird on our left???

[girisholeti]

Artie, haven't done anything to the chin but it is like that even in the RAW file. Not sure why.

[yogesh_puranik]

to me this isa winner girish bhai..superb DOF, light and nice catchlight..totall killer

[Mark Itol]

Great job getting two of them in a single frame and with excellent pose.

[Arthur Morris]

Artie, haven't done anything to the chin but it is like that even in the RAW file. Not sure why.

Thanks. I cleaned up the messy chin with a warped/transformed Quick Mask of the area to the left (along with a Layer mask). Then a bit of clean up of the BKGR in the same area. All as detailed in Digital Basics plus tons more . I think that it is a bit better....

As for the image I love it for all the reasons above. Great birds and great interaction....

[Jim Crosswell]

Beautiful image Girish! I like the low angle, composition and BG.

[Ofer Levy]

Fantastic behaviour shot! I can't see the problem on the chin. Fantastic image!

[Raul Padilla]

very strong caracter, i like so much this type of shots, great work

[Arthur Morris]

Fantastic behaviour shot! I can't see the problem on the chin. Fantastic image!

In the original both Girish and I noted that the chin directly below the eye looked a bit of a mess almost as if there was something between that area and the lens.... So where is the post to your mazel tov-worthy accomplishment?

[RakeshDhareshwar]

Brilliant one , Girish . Love the similar poses and the lovely angle you have shot them at . Both are reasonably in perfect focus, so do not think you needed to increase the aperture .