Snail Kite

Gallery: AvianPosted March 12, 2011234 views19 comments

Endangered Snail Kite, male
Florida
D300
500mm
Subject dist: 24m
1/2500 sec, f/4
Mode: Manual
Metering: Multi-segment
ISO: 400
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off
Hand-held from boat

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 12, 2011 at 11:36 AM

I like this one a lot Sandy. The red eyes are sweet...nice BG and good detail. I am not huge on cloning, but would think about the twigs leading to the chest....but that's probably all I would do is think about it and still leave them

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 12, 2011 at 11:50 AM

Very nice bird and pose and background. I'm used to seeing these birds wearing leg bands - you were lucky to find one without (unless it is hidden behind the foreground leg).

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on March 12, 2011 at 12:21 PM

Superb shot of a beautiful bird- Great pose, composition and awesome BG- I' d try a little more sharpening on subject- Well done, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 12, 2011 at 12:31 PM

What a wonderful capture of this bird. Agreed...a little more sharpening on bird would help, but would love to have taken this. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 12, 2011 at 2:41 PM

All the endangered kites here (lake Toho )are captured briefly and banded as chicks in the nest. This fellow has a band on his left leg - it's just not visible here.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 12, 2011 at 6:18 PM

This is beautiful Sandy, excellent light & color.
I especially like how the BG brings it all together, well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on March 12, 2011 at 9:54 PM

Hi Sandy
As I keep saying - dont know much about the American stuff but this looks good to me.

I happen to like the squarish crops which dont seem to go down well in the uk !!
As I say -if you crop it square you can always take some off!!

Cheers
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 12, 2011 at 10:08 PM

I really like the composition Sandy. Wonderful soft background with beautiful colors. Great pose. I agree, the Kite could use some sharpening.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on March 12, 2011 at 11:42 PM

A little soft to my eyes also but still a very pleasing image.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 13, 2011 at 12:52 AM

Sweet portrait Sandy

Love that eye!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by antino cervigni on March 13, 2011 at 3:47 AM

Excellent shot. Regards Antino

Registered on April 17, 2010, 70 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on March 13, 2011 at 9:38 AM

Sandy,

Well done! The sharpness is great for a boat shot. I love the intense eye color and soft gray colors. What a thrill this must have been!

Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 13, 2011 at 2:43 PM

Great shot for handheld from a boat. I like he comp as you have it.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 13, 2011 at 4:27 PM

Great BG here Sandy. Nice look at this Male. Just a bit shy of tack sharp in the larger version, but nice none the less. Lake Tohopekaliga is a great place to find this species.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 13, 2011 at 5:19 PM

Nice pose and slight head-turn, and I like the beautifully mottled background.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 14, 2011 at 1:00 AM

Nit mentioned, but I like your composition.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 14, 2011 at 6:27 AM

Lovely setting and background Sandy - possibly a little more sharpening??

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 14, 2011 at 12:50 PM

Nice job in getting this hand held from a boat, wonderful colors all around this image, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 16, 2011 at 11:24 PM

This is a beauty, Sandy. I love the pose, the background and that red eye just pops from the detail that you have here.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments