Willet #2 with better HA

[gail bisson]

I am curious as to which my fellow BPN'ers think is the better shot. This frame immediately precedes the willet #1 shot that I posted yesterday.
Does the better HA trump the light?
Canon 1D MKIV
f 4 -500mm
Manual, f 6.3
ISO 400
SS 1/3200
On skimmer pod with riser and wimberley head.
I did some dodging on left side of face
Appreciate you vote for which is the better shot.
Thanks in advance,
Gail
PS Can mods edit title to Willet with better HA?

[Rachel Hollander]

Gail - I think I prefer yesterday's though I understand your point about HA. It is a very close call though.

TFS,
Rachel

[Randy Stout]

Gail:

I flipped back and forth four or five times, overall I slightly favor yesterdays. As usual, somewhere in between would be about perfect!

Like the low angle , the position of the feet, excellent wing display.

Cheers

Randy

[Bill Dix]

Tough call. Both have great walking pose and wing position. I think I prefer #1.

[dankearl]

This one is better for me, if it was the same size in the frame.
It is cropped a bit looser so on the surface no. 1 looks better, but the light appears the same to me and the pose is better.

[Ian Cassell]

Hi Gail, I think light wins. I prefer #1 (although I admit I like them both).

[christopher galeski]

Both nice images Gail,but prefer your first post.thanks.

[Chris Martinez]

Although both fantastic photographs, I personally prefer the full side on profile of the previous image. I like the better view of the tongue poking out
LOve the arched feet!!

[Ofer Levy]

Pose in here is better IMHO. In both of them composition looks a bit un-balanced to me. Here is what I had in mind.

[Melissa Groo]

I slightly prefer this one, Gail, simply because the head angle is more engaging. And I like what Ofer has done with the comp.

[Grace Scalzo]

Ditto Melissa.

[rajandesai]

Gail - didn't understand your question: "Does the better HA trump the light?"
I think light is equally good in both. I love the both but prefer this one (something in between would have been ideal), especially crop suggested by Ofer.
Great job any way.

[Melissa Groo]

Rajan, she means: does the fact that this is a better head angle outweigh the fact that the face is a bit more in shadow. I think.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gail, Hmmmmm - this one. Why, because the HA is much better here, and I do like that there is a touch more FG in this. Still well timed to get the raised wings and visible tongue, and if anything, I would just take a bit off the top. Did I mention how sharp this is.

[Marina Scarr]

Have to go with the previous one. Although the HA is better here, you don't have a good look at the eye. I feel the calling pose on the previous one is more powerful when compared to this one. I agree that you may wish to try some different compositions on this one.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Somewhere in between the two would be best for me too. I prefer the head angle here, but I miss a catchlight. I also prefer the bit of extra room below. I prefer the overall wing position and illumination of the face on the first. Both need a crop as per Ofer.

[gail bisson]

Thannk you all for your great comments. I agree that Ofer's comp is much better and wish that I had seen that for myself! I am always learning...
Gail

[Kiran Poonacha]

Beautiful Image Gail.. really loved the pose.

[PhilCook]

Needing to flip a coin to decide, both have merit,but I think at a pinch I prefer the first one with the eye a bit more distinct. Beautiful images Gail, such an elegant bird and elegant posture captured along with a wonderfully silky smooth and subtle backdrop