Western Grebe.

[Karl Egressy]

I posted a full frame one a couple days ago.
This one has a slight crop giving me an opportunity to do a better composition (more room at the front)
Also this one has a nice head turn.
Thanks for looking.


Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Manual Exposure
Tv 1/2000
Av 6.3
ISO 320
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Hand held, hence the fast high shutter speed.
(I always check the active focus square for reference.
This time top row very left sitting on the beak closer to the tip.)

[gail bisson]

The HA police will be happy with this one! I like the smoothness of the water and the water droplets. Good comp.The light looks a bit harsh. What time was this taken?
Gail

[Daniel Cadieux]

Yes, a nice head angle indeed! Good job exposing this guy in the harsh light, but I still find that there are a few white areas that could be tamed a bit. Nice looking eye, and I like the many water beads on the back. I'd take a sliver off the bottom, and add it back above. There is also a spot above the rump (halfway up to the edge) that could go.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Another nice look at this one Karl. Did you soften/blur the bg at all? It almost looks 3d at the face arrea.

[Karl Egressy]

The HA police will be happy with this one! I like the smoothness of the water and the water droplets. Good comp.The light looks a bit harsh. What time was this taken?
Gail

Thanks Gail.
It was taken at 11:27 AM at Bosque. I did not know about this trail and Pond, drove by chance and discovered the three Grebes there.
They were gone by next day and never returned. I heard that earlier you could find Clark's Grebes there as well. It would have been a lifer for me.
The Pond is along the Marsh trail that I neglected during the first day.

[Karl Egressy]

Yes, a nice head angle indeed! Good job exposing this guy in the harsh light, but I still find that there are a few white areas that could be tamed a bit. Nice looking eye, and I like the many water beads on the back. I'd take a sliver off the bottom, and add it back above. There is also a spot above the rump (halfway up to the edge) that could go.

Thanks Daniel.
I checked the Raw file again. Tiny blikies on the neck and a few on the body. They disappeared by using Recovery at 8.
I still selectively burned the neck area in PP.
Yeah the slivers are bothersome. I should have noticed them, so easy to get rid of them.

[Karl Egressy]

Another nice look at this one Karl. Did you soften/blur the bg at all? It almost looks 3d at the face arrea.

Thanks Cheryl.
I don't recall doing anyting to the water.
Maybe noise reduction if so but not likely.
At ISO 320 the Mark IV pruduces noise free images.
Well, even at ISO 800 most of the time.
Beyond that I have to use noise reduction.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot. Excellent head angle, and exposed well despite the harsh light. Excellent detail too.
Well done Karl.