First light

Gallery: AvianPosted April 20, 2012233 views16 comments

Yep, another kite. I like the side view here with the snail held out in front. the great look at the talons holding the snail draws me in every time I look at this image. It seems that some people are finding these images too saturated with red/orange. To me they are accurate in that respect. This image was taken at sunrise with a very red sun in the east shining on this bird. What do you think? To red/orange?

Please view the larger version for max details. Thanks.

Canon 1DM4
Canon 500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC
ISO 800
1/1600s
f/5.6
Manual exp.
Hand held from my boat

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on April 20, 2012 at 4:55 PM

I love these Kite shots. Here the wing position, the extended talons, and the stare all hold my interest. The colors look correct to me and the background highlights the bird well. Another super image Ron!

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 20, 2012 at 5:03 PM

I'm going to start just cutting and pasting my comments.. just another great image!
I don't remember the kite beaks and legs this bright an orange, so they do seem a touch over-satted to me.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Geoff Powell on April 20, 2012 at 5:24 PM

Hi Ron. Great image. Definitely not over saturated (this should be apparent when taking in the image as a whole, unless there was a specific channel saturation). I guess you have to see the sunrise light to appreciate it. The beauty of this golden light, or red light sometimes, is the amazing warmth it instills on the subject. I have some osprey shots from Blue Cypress that look almost pink because of this light. I think it adds to the image IMHO because it immediately makes me think of the time of day, which instills all kinds of feels associated with that time.

Registered on March 20, 2012, 21 Posts, 170 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 20, 2012 at 5:39 PM

Sandy, if you compare an adult male in breeding condition, such as this bird, to a female, the male's legs, feet, and beak area are very bright orange in the male and only yellow/orange on the female. It is one way to tell the younger males from the females. This is most likely a second year male as it is just getting the grey on the breast, but it still shows the very bright orange features. To me the saturation of the orange is accurate given the light conditions.

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

Comment posted by Sally Wood on April 20, 2012 at 5:54 PM

Beautiful shot. so graceful.. sharp against the oof background!

Registered on March 8, 2012, 39 Posts, 509 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 20, 2012 at 6:53 PM

No nits from me!

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 20, 2012 at 8:12 PM

Colors look fine to me - more winged perfection.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 20, 2012 at 11:36 PM

"What do you think? To red/orange?"

Ron, you asked for comments about the orange saturation. I gave you mine, based on my experience and my many photos of these adult male kites in breeding colours, and in a location very close to you.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on April 21, 2012 at 7:09 AM

Absolutely brilliant !!!
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 21, 2012 at 7:14 AM

Sandy, I appreciate your comments and yes I did ask. But I also am warranted an opinion, as this is my photograph and thus I know what the light conditions etc were like. My opinion is that the oranges in this image, as in the others, is accurate based on what I saw. Now, that does not mean others cannot say what they think and I will take that input into consideration as I always have.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 21, 2012 at 7:59 AM

Holy Cow! This is awesome and you even got a "bird's eye" view into the snail. Saturation looks fine to me, showing off beautifully that magic morning light. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on April 21, 2012 at 2:50 PM

Great talons and I also love the snails eye view.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Jim Hansen on April 21, 2012 at 8:14 PM

Looks like you got everything right. Great image.

Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 22, 2012 at 4:15 AM

You will have built up an amazing collection of these Ron - well done

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 22, 2012 at 3:24 PM

You have a really extraordinary series of Snail Kite photos, Ron. And this is another fine one. Oh, and I think the light is wonderful, near-perfect.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on April 23, 2012 at 9:10 PM

Beautiful light, excellent image.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments