Cormorant sun bather

[Dave Goldberg]

I wonder if they do anything else...

Taken at a local pond in Alexandria Virginia. I wasn't too close but I still got his attention, so I snapped off a few shots and went on my way.

Light edits on DT 4.8 to crop, color correct, reduce some glare and clean up a few specks.

Comments welcome and appreciated.

• Canon EOS R7
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• ƒ/7.1
• 500mm
• 1/500s
• ISO 400
• Sun, 08 December 2024 9:57 AM

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the colours, the background looks just a little bit grainy - was it a large crop?/ no NR?

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Dave ... nice tight portrait of the cormorant , not a big fan of squarish crops ... but this does work quite well .
Colors are overall nice ...
As Jon mentioned , very grainy overall ... and not only the BG !!! Especially surprising at Iso 400 ??!!
I would also try to give the subject more form and depth ... adding locally contrast, or dodge and burn .
As the sun in your back made everything quite flat , IMHO.

A nice base image , which I would personally treat differently

TFS Andreas

 

[Dave Goldberg]

Jon/Andreas, thanks for the feedback. Yes, the crop was very tight which exaggerated the grain, so I should have applied NR. The suggestions to add form and depth are a little more challenging for me. I added some local contrast and attempted to accentuate the bird's lines with some dodge and burn. I've attached an RP that hopefully captures the intent. Thanks again for the comments.

Dave G.

• Canon EOS R7
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• ƒ/7.1
• 500mm
• 1/500s
• ISO 400
• Sun, 08 December 2024 9:57 AM
• DxO PureRAW 4

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hey Dave ... RP is an improvement in my book !!!!!

 

[Dave Goldberg]

Hey Dave ... RP is an improvement in my book !!!!!

Thanks, Andreas. Not to belabor it, but is there anything else you'd recommend? I want to keep that in mind for the next time around.

Dave G.

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

Nothing general ... as every image and file is different , so no big suggestion from my side
I might a touch brighter .... within the subject , after the second look . Without loosing the created form ....
The emerald eye could be improved ... make it a bit more " polished "