Spoonbill

[Jude Haase]

One from last weekend. I just love these guys! Image taken in South Louisiana.

30D and 500f4

ISO 640
F 7.1
1/500th

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Jude !!!!! Thought it was from Louisiana !!!

I like the diagonal perch and bird in breeding plumage very much Wings on the full up would have been great Nice soft light is a big plus Did you have to blur in PS the bg? Might have done a little less? Excellent spoon Big Congrats !!!

[Jude Haase]

Alfred,

No blurring was done in PS. Also, I too would have rathered the wings on full up but sometimes you just have to take what they'll give you!! ;)

Thanks for the commenting!!
Jude

[Doug West]

I'll probably be in the minority here, but I like the wing position here.
The reason is it gives me a few guesses on what the bird was doing
at that particular time.

With the wing position and the legs, the bird could've just landed,
getting ready to take off, etc.

I think that leads you into thinking more about the behavior than if
the wings were just straight up.

If that makes any sense at all :)

Doug

[Linda Robbins]

This is beautful. Love the soft light, diagonal perch and wonderful soft bg. The saturation is just right. Sharp detail and a great view of the beautiful colors on the tail. I might lighten the bird's head and eye very slightly, but lovely as posted.

[Grace Scalzo]

I love the pose with the bird parallel to the perch. Nice work!

[David Chauvin]

This guy looks familiar, Jude! :p Not too often you get one with such a clean bg in the swamp. Love the posture and soft light.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great pose, details and colors. Maybe a bit tight in the frame and I find the bright spots left in the frame a bit distracting.