Sunset Spoonie - Heading to the roost

[Randy Stout]

This roseate spoonbill was imaged while out with Capt. James last Feb. Late in the day, and many of the birds were leaving to roost elsewhere.

D700 600VR 1.4TC f/6.3 1/2000s ISO 800 Standing in Tampa Bay with Gitzo and Wimberley

Post: Selective sharpening, filled in some dark holes in the background with clone stamp at 30% removed a large indistinct catchlight, Color Efex detail extractor on whites to tone down a few hot spots

I liked the slightly unusual pose, display of legs and feet, the hints of pink in BG.

I tried a version with slightly lower color temp to make the bird more pink, but it didn't quite match the sundown lighting that was present.

Advice and comments always appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

[dankearl]

It really pops, almost looks like a flash used.
Very nice details and very pretty BG.

[arash_hazeghi]

I like the light and details the dark BG is nice too, eye contact is great. I wish the near wing was fully parallel to the back of the camera.

[gail bisson]

Lovely light and position. Good PP work on the BG. Whites are a bit hot but have a nice pearly kind of sheen on them so i am OK with them,
Gail

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nice light, pose and BG. I love the far wing and good comp. Strong image all around!

[Gary Esman]

Sharp, nice exposure, fantastic light and the background really makes him pop.

Gary.

[Dan Busby]

Terrific lighting Randy - this thing really jumps off the canvas. Good HA and eye detail. Very nice.

[Todd Frost]

Nice comp, colors and bg. Good sharpness as well. Well done. TFS

Todd

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Randy, I feel you have exposed this superbly, and of course I just love the pinks of your Spoonies. Good downward flying posture, sharp, and I do like your mottled coloured BG.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Really nice . The warm sundown colors add a great feel and I like the pose too. I also like the shadow the top wing created.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks everyone.

Arash - I agree about the tip of the near wing, which it was up, but at least it left a shadow to give some more interest in that area.

The whites were well controlled in the PSD file, but they went just a little too warm in the jpeg, as Gail pointed out. I can still see some texture there, but may revisit and not leave them quite so close to the edge in the PSD file so the conversion to jpeg doesn't overdo them.

Cheers

Randy

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent image Randy! I like the details, lighting, sharpness and BG.