Brenda Fishbaugh, QPSA
June 2021 - Roseate Spoonbill in Mating Colors
Original
About the Image(s)
Canon 5D Mark IV, Canon 100-400 with 1.4x telextender (560mm), hand held
ISO 320 560 mm focal length f/8.0 1/640 sec
In March, we went to the Alligator Farm Rookery in St. Augustine, Florida when they opened at 8 am (still too late in Florida sun!). I believe this would count as a natural habitat, as they do not feed the birds or interfere with them in any way, unlike a zoo.
The Roseate Spoonbills are a really colorful bird year round, but they get this bright coral on their wings and color around their eye during mating season, making them even more incredible.
It is a "Bird on a Stick", but how am I doing on my processing? I flipped the bird so we see him left to right and he is anchored on the left. I doubt I can do this in PSA Nature, since it should look like the scene?
Thanks for all the birding advice!
This round’s discussion is now closed!
21 comments posted
(Group 70)
Well done the eye is sharp with a little bit of sun shining on it, colors of the bird great, background nicely out of focus. It would have been great if the feet were showing. Posted: 06/05/2021 21:41:21
(Group 78)
Thanks, Geoff. I didn't think about the feet being "cut off".
Posted: 06/21/2021 20:02:02
Posted: 06/21/2021 20:02:02
(Group 78)
Geoff, I followed everyone's suggestions, do you think my 6/25 version is an improvement? Thanks for taking a peek! Posted: 06/25/2021 16:38:13
(Group 34)
Brenda, it is a bird on a stick but has been processed well. The background is nicely out of focus. The bird has good detail and texture in the feathers and the eye has good color and definitely draws the viewer into the image. Posted: 06/07/2021 15:22:35
(Group 78)
Thanks so much, Candy! I appreciate the "thumbs up" on my beginner attempts! Posted: 06/21/2021 20:02:44
(Group 78)
Candy, I had some suggestions to crop from the top and the left. Do you think it improved the composition--see my 6/25 post. Thanks in advance for your feedback! Posted: 06/25/2021 16:39:24
Spoonbills are one of my favorite birds, and you have captured the colors beautifully. Nature division does allow you to flip the image so I don't see any problem there.
I would crop a little more off the left side to eliminate that branch in the bottom left corner, and some off the top. Posted: 06/08/2021 12:45:17
I would crop a little more off the left side to eliminate that branch in the bottom left corner, and some off the top. Posted: 06/08/2021 12:45:17
(Group 78)
Thanks for the compliment and for the cropping tip! Posted: 06/21/2021 20:04:00
(Group 78)
I followed everyone's suggestions, do you think my 6/25 version is an improvement? Thanks for taking a peek! Posted: 06/25/2021 16:39:46
Brenda,
I agree with Mervyn - I would crop a bit down from the top and get rid of the intruding branch (if not for PSA judging). Posted: 06/08/2021 13:48:36
I agree with Mervyn - I would crop a bit down from the top and get rid of the intruding branch (if not for PSA judging). Posted: 06/08/2021 13:48:36
(Group 78)
I definitely want to enter it in nature, but I think I can crop a bit. Thanks so much for your thoughts! Posted: 06/21/2021 20:05:30
(Group 78)
I followed everyone's suggestions, do you think my 6/25 version is an improvement? Thanks for taking a peek! Posted: 06/25/2021 16:41:38
Beautiful image. I agree with a little bit more cropping on the left side so the spoonbill is not dead center. Yes, this is a bird on a stick image but it is keeping the bird in its environment, beautifully captured with all the sharpness and the accuracy of colors. Nicely muted background.
Excellent! Posted: 06/23/2021 10:32:46
Excellent! Posted: 06/23/2021 10:32:46
(Group 78)
I followed everyone's suggestions, do you think my 6/25 version is an improvement? Thanks for taking a peek! Posted: 06/25/2021 16:41:53
(Group 78)
I've taken everyone's advice and cropped from the top and the left. This did move the bird's eye off of Rule of Third's, but did make the bird fill the frame more. I also darkened the light spots on the stick behind the spoonbill's butt. I added back some darkening on the top and sides so there weren't bright spots near edges. Any further suggestions before I enter PSA competition with it? Many thanks! Posted: 06/25/2021 16:37:24
Improved; no other suggestions. Posted: 06/25/2021 18:41:02
(Group 78)
Thanks for taking another look Dean! Posted: 06/25/2021 20:17:54
I would crop a little more on the left side. Posted: 06/25/2021 17:06:04
(Group 78)
Thanks, Pierre,. I cropped in quite a bit on the left, How much more would you recommend cropping in? He has tail feathers there I didn't want to crowd. Posted: 06/25/2021 20:19:11
I personally agree that cropping a tiny bit would help. I think cropping the left side would help add to the image by giving a sense of motion. Overall I enjoy the lighting and the shadows. Posted: 06/25/2021 19:42:15
(Group 78)
Thanks, Jacob! I appreciate the feedback! Posted: 06/25/2021 20:19:44