Raven portrait

Gallery: AvianPosted December 11, 2011604 views12 comments

Went out yesterday morning to revisit my favorite local raven pair (featured together in my last post). Both birds seem to be doing well, although the one that was not well a week ago does show an injury to its wing. It's able to fly fine, and hopefully it will heal.

This is the uninjured bird (I can tell them apart now by bill shape). The pair is extremely habituated to humans, which means they allow very close approach. This is a treat since they have so much character and, I think, lend themselves well to portraits.

I appreciate your critiques and comments. Please view the larger version if possible.

Canon 7D, 100-400mm @ 320mm, handheld

f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 400. Crop to 92% of original (16.6 of 18MP).

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 11, 2011 at 8:52 AM

An outstanding portrait Brian. The BG is perfect for this black subject. The detail is as good as it gets in the larger version. Exposure looks perfect as well. I especially love all the detail on the beak of this bird. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 11, 2011 at 9:25 AM

The detail is really interesting - especially all of the scratches and scrapes on the bill. I'd clone on the encroaching green up top

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on December 11, 2011 at 10:16 AM

Super nice detail in all of the blacks. A very nice portrait...well done! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on December 11, 2011 at 10:26 AM

What a great closeup of this bird and the feather detail is amazing!

Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 11, 2011 at 11:09 AM

Excellent. Perfect technicals: exposure, sharpness, detail are wonderful. The composition is good for a head shot - the crop has to be at the right point to make this type of image feel right for me.

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on December 11, 2011 at 12:43 PM

I love the lighting effect that captures the subtle changes in feathers and feather groups. Well done Brian.

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on December 11, 2011 at 1:52 PM

Excellent portrait, Brian. Great fine detail in all of the blacks.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on December 11, 2011 at 10:27 PM

Great Portrait Brian.Love the detail. My only nit would be the funky colors alon the upper edge of the image

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on December 12, 2011 at 10:48 AM

Brian, looks like this could have been a tricky exposure w/ the blacks & bright whites but you pulled it off rather well. Very nice portrait of a very interesting species (IMHO).

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 12, 2011 at 5:03 PM

Nice job on the close up, I have tired close shots and they are hard to get right but you have done a real nice job on this one. Interesting to see the raven's feather pattern since you do not usually notice that on an all black colored bird and all the scratches on the beak, well done Brian.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 13, 2011 at 7:55 PM

The detail is really remarkable. Nice work.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 13, 2011 at 8:53 PM

Don't think I've seen a nicer head shot of a raven. The colors up top don't bother me a whit. I've never seen such a good look at the iris and pupil of this species. Our ravens are just so darned uncooperative and exasperating... Well done!

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments