However it can be explained, like clockwork, a Pileated makes a return visit to my yard seven days to it being a year. Like a low-flying helicopter, she announces her arrival. This gal perched almost at eye level, which was very nice; in the mottled, side lighting of a late afternoon last week, which was a challenge. But good portraits depend on shading as much as light, so I worked with this to create a contrast where the face and crest try to pull in your focus. Worried about the color for that crest I used the color proportions Cornel Labs identifies and then brought them as a new swatch into a Gradient mask. The composition follows the ⅓ rule dividing tree, bird, background. Other than minor cleanup no elements have been added or deleted from the image. Photoshop, Nik Software, and DxO Pure Raw were used for editing. Here are the specifics:
Canon EOS 1D Mk II
f/8 1/500 ISO 5000
EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x
Focal Length 400mm
Flash Type Did not fire
Tripod Used
81% of Original
Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.