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October 2017 GOTM

Gallery: Gallery of the MonthPosted April 12, 2017251 views8 comments

Fan Dancer

I loved the way this guy was preening his tail. He looked like a fan dancer. Processed using Lightroom CC (2015) and Photoshop CC (2017) along with Light Craft's LightZone. Comments and critiques welcome.

Canon 1DX Mark II
Canon 200-400 f4 L IS
f5.6
1/4000s
Focal Length 560mm (Teleconverter Engaged)
ISO 640

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on April 12, 2017 at 10:15 AM

Great pose and a well exposed shot Jerry. The iridescent light from the back of the neck is why I like to photograph these birds. A very small nit, for me, is the OOF bird abeam the subject to the right-I would be tempted to clone it out.

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

Comment posted by John Robinson on April 12, 2017 at 12:16 PM

That,s a cracker Jerry! To be honest I reckon a tighter crop would emphasise the "arty" aspect of the shot.
Just my view.

Great stuff
John

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 12, 2017 at 4:31 PM

Lots of tail to fan on these guys, Jerry. A really cool preening image and you nailed the plumage coloration and sheen. Excellent image.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on April 12, 2017 at 8:10 PM

I like this pretty much as is, but I would like to see this without the OOF bird (?).

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on April 13, 2017 at 5:16 PM

Very cool. I agree about cloning out the OOF bird.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Jake Alletson on April 14, 2017 at 12:52 AM

This is an excellent shot and the comments say it all. But, for a foreigner from a distant land, please could somebody say what the bird is?

With thanks

Jake

Registered on May 3, 2016, 12 Posts, 163 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on April 14, 2017 at 9:05 AM

Everyone, thanks for all the comments. Jake, this is a common grackle. I posted another image of this species a few weeks ago if you want to check it out.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 14, 2017 at 6:57 PM

Very interesting pose!
I agree that the OOF bird detracts a bit, but it would be tough to clone it out.
Not much detail in the blacks; a program like nik's viveza might reclaim some detail.
Sandy

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