Posted by Paul Hillion on March 12, 2007 at 7:22 PM
I saw this Kestrel whilst out walking this weekend along a nature trail, I managed to get a decent shot hand held but thought I could do better. After the Kestrel had flown I got my car, drove & parked to the lane which ran along the trail. After a half hour wait sure enough he returned to the same area and I managed to get a few shots out the window, bean bag support. Canon 500mm f/4L IS with 1.4x II TC and 1D MkII N. ISO 100, 1/640 sec. at f/8.
Your perserverance and fieldcraft have resulted in you bagging a very nice image of this Kestrel. It's lovely and sharp with great eye contact. Might be an idea to play around with some different crops so he is not no central, could also do with a bit more saturation just give the colours a bit more strength.
Nice work
Regards
Rob
Posted by Paul Hillion on March 13, 2007 at 5:08 AM
OK will do. The crop is a bit difficult as just out of shot to the left is a mass of small branches. This is not far from full frame so I've not much to play with I'm afraid.
Here's the first shot I took of it, handheld with the 100-400. Again this is very close to full frame but I think this shot has a warmer feel to it... http://www.paulhillion.com/photo_820386.html
You might want to try and extend the canvas above the bird, clone in the sky (dead easy as it is a fairly continuous tone) and crop some off the right (probably where the twigs cross) to give Rob's portrait frame crop - the bird would then be looking across the frame and out to the left side
Mike
Posted by Mike Smith on March 13, 2007 at 10:58 AM
Posted by Andy Astbury on March 13, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Hi Paul - I agree repost is better - but I much prefer kestrel01.jpg on your website. The exposure is great and the birds feet are very interesting - thats just my HO mind you!!!
Great pics and on very cool website btw
Regards
Andy
Posted by Paul Hillion on March 13, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Ok here's a 3rd version
So I've gone back to the RAW file, re-cropped & added space top & bottom, plus added a bit of warmth. Much happier with it now. Thanks all for the advice & replies.
Paul
Posted by David Kjaer on March 13, 2007 at 4:40 PM
Discussion
13 repliesThanks for looking.
Your perserverance and fieldcraft have resulted in you bagging a very nice image of this Kestrel. It's lovely and sharp with great eye contact. Might be an idea to play around with some different crops so he is not no central, could also do with a bit more saturation just give the colours a bit more strength.
Nice work
Regards
Rob
Here's the first shot I took of it, handheld with the 100-400. Again this is very close to full frame but I think this shot has a warmer feel to it...
http://www.paulhillion.com/photo_820386.html
Many thanks.
Great Kestrel shots, but definately a fan of the linked shot has a dynamic diagonal as they say, excellent stuff.
Tim
Mike
Mike
Phillip.
Your repost emphasises the Kestrel much better.
Regards
Rob
Great pics and on very cool website btw
Regards
Andy
So I've gone back to the RAW file, re-cropped & added space top & bottom, plus added a bit of warmth. Much happier with it now. Thanks all for the advice & replies.
Paul
Version 3 is very very nice!
David