Bateleur

I have had my glasses on and had a good look at this picture, it seems Ok to me focus wise at least, what about the composition.

I had been wanting to get a shot of this eagle for some time and my chance came when visiting the very north of the Kruger in February this year. I think this has to be on of the most hansome eagles in the world. I know that I was shooting upwards but some times the birds do not get themselves in the best of positions.

Canon 20D
canon 300mm f4 lens
ISO 100
f/4
1/800 sec
some cropping and a branch in front of bird removed

I really like batleurs, when they're flying they look as if they're on the edge of stability - something to do with the stubby tail. You obviously got close and had a fantastic view - amazing colours. This just needs a bit of processing and sharpening to make it pop. I've had a very quick go at levels, curves, and USM, but this was on my laptop, so could be done much better.

Mark

Hi Dave,

The head/eye is not sharp. Looks like your focus point was on the "elbow" of the wing. It's position in the frame and the view point are not a problem for me. I think Mark's quick play may have overcooked it a little but give's you an idea of what the potential is.

Regards

Rob

Hi Dave,

Hope you don't mind, but downloaded your image and done my normal process to it which was: Levels adjustment to suit, then a gentle "s" on curves, plus 6 on contrast, plus 8 on saturation, then on USM I added on your image 8 rounds at Amount 100, radius 0.2, threshold 0.

HTH

Regards

Rob

Rob
I realy do not mind it helps me enormously to see what you guys do to the pictures to improve. For instance I did not know that going over USM more then once was something worth doing, I just did it once and thought that was it. So great all learning for me.

Dave

Hello Dave,

I think Marks tweaking has given a good pointer to what can be achieved, regarding polishing the image up, and Rob's version has hit the nail on the head!!

As you will find, composition is 'in the eye of the beholder', although differences in opinion are usually quite small.

For me, the upward angle is a touch steep {probably your only option with what you were faced with, and FL you were using}, but a fine shot of this bird, with good detail

FWIW, i usually apply usm three times or more {same settings as Rob}, depending on the individual image, for screen viewing!!

Alan

Hi Dave - Robs workup has given you the best help you could have had - now you can see all that lovely detail clearly and sharply defined

As for the image itself, the only thing I'd be tempted to do now is to clone out the branch from where it re-enters the frame at the bottom.

Nice one

Final version is spot on. These birds are great when they fly - like giant bats. Out of interest did you try for a more 'side on' shot after this?
Dave

Hi Dave

I live in South Africa and also think these Raptor's are amazing.
Congrats on finally capturing your Bird.

Leon Rossouw

Yeah these are the coolest I reckon. They have renamed this species as a Short-tailed Eagle now ..... bizaare The people in power hey??? I'd say omewhere between Mark's and Robs as the black's could still have more black in it and keep detail. Agree with cloning the bottom right.

Try this for sharpening:

select bird and perch, hit sharpen twice, it will look over done, and then reduce image size for posting on the web and see how that goes. There are loadsof sharpening methods and people use all of them, it's just what you feel happier with and it's theend result that matters

A great bird to watch when in flight Dave. How on earth they manage to control direction with virtually no tail is quite amazing. Never managed to see one as close as this.