I took this image a few weeks ago when I was out with James Shadle. The original image contains two birds in the frame. I did a portrait crop to get just this bird. The first cropped frame has the bird standing on one leg in front of a sand bar that runs across the image just under the body. I did a landscape crop of the crop to eliminate the sand bar. So, this is a heavily cropped result. I processed the first crop using Nik Color Efex Pro. With the second crop I added another layer of the Detail Extractor at 50%.
The original image was taken with a Canon EOS-7D, Canon 500mm IS USM f/4 lens on a tri-pod. ISO was set at 400, f/8 aperture, and 1/1600th sec shutter speed.
Nice one the play here is to employ good tripod technique and focus on the eye looks like you are on the right track,...boy that Shadle knows where to go!!
Good comments from Michael, what was the crop size? The composition is well done, very regal position and a great moment with nature - I like this picture, you have positioned the subject well and maybe a bit off the top but that is subject - well done - show us some more.
Close Up Spoonbill
