This juvenile Crested Caracara was photographed from a blind in Texas this past Spring. Light was already a bit high but the action was too good to stop. Watching the young ones come in for their landings was so humorous b/c they were often all over the place. This one did pretty well, though. A colleague suggested I lose "the feather." I personally feel that the stray feather adds a lot to this image and was wondering how others felt about it?
Canon 1D3, Canon 400DO F4 IS
F6.3, 1/1600sec, ISO 640, manual mode
Feisol tripod, Mongoose head
I absolutely wouldn't lose the feather Marina. It really makes the image for me. I love its displaced location and its silvery color. Excellent landing pose and sharpness. Like the framing. I do find the darks a little blocked, and I might ease off on the sharpening of the crest feathers. I would also consider darkening the perch a little.
I would also keep the feather Marina - it's real life out there! Nice landing pose. Light a bit harsh but good comments from Doug re: perch and blacks. Great landing pose timing and I like the position of the beak and how it stands out against the dark shoulder feathers. Lovely detail in the wing secondaries and tertials.
Love this image but agree with Doug's suggestions. There are a few other feathers that are damaged/out of place also, 5th on RH wing tip and a tail feather. I would leave them all as they are.
Tack sharp Marina, and what a great landing posture you have captured. This shows off the wingspread very well. I wouldnt lose the feather either. Another vote for toning down the perch.
The Stray Feather
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