Stray Feather...

Joseph Przybyla · Dec 9, 2021

NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D500
500.0 mm f/5.6
ƒ/8
700mm
1/2000s
ISO 2200
JOSEPH J PRZYBYLA
Fri, 13 August 2021 6:54 AM
COPYRIGHT 2020 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 11.0.1 (Windows)

I captured this image of a Green Heron at Lake Morton in Lakeland, Florida. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D500
Nikon 500mm F/5.6 VR AF-S ED PF + Nikon 1.4 III Teleconverter, camera and lens supported by a Oben carbon fiber monopod with a Wimberly MonoGimbal head
1/2000 F/8 Matrix Metering EV 0 ISO 2200 Auto 1 WB, image captured at 700mm (1050mm 35mm Equivalent)
Post processed in Lightroom Classic, Photoshop CC 2022 and Neat Image for noise reduction
Cropped for composition and presentation

P.S. Learn more about Lake Morton in the BAA Middle Florida Photography Site Guide that Artie and I co-authored. It is available at this link https://birdsasart-shop.com/the-baa-middle-of-florida-photographic-site-guide/

Dorian Anderson · Dec 9, 2021

Very nice, Joe. Lighting and detail look great, but I think you could move the bird right a bit. Trade the inch of boring back feather (but not the amazing flank feathers!) for additional room to the left of the subject. I'm lookin at this on my lap top since I'm traveling, but I wonder if more sharpening is in order. Ignore that comment as a screen artifact on my end if no one else points it out. I love this little wader, so this image sits really well with me.

Joseph Przybyla · Dec 10, 2021

Dorian Anderson said:
Very nice, Joe. Lighting and detail look great, but I think you could move the bird right a bit. Trade the inch of boring back feather (but not the amazing flank feathers!) for additional room to the left of the subject. I'm lookin at this on my lap top since I'm traveling, but I wonder if more sharpening is in order. Ignore that comment as a screen artifact on my end if no one else points it out. I love this little wader, so this image sits really well with me.

Hi Dorian, thank you for viewing and commenting. Looking at the image after reading your comment regarding sharpening I went back to the image. I agree it needed more sharpening. I did that and reposted the image.

Andreas Liedmann · Dec 10, 2021

Hi Joe , very nice overall .
Light looks sweet , a lot of color variations in the plumage and the tonal is helping to create a nice 3D effect .
Comp works for me as presented , and have you added more NR ?? As the other image looked a bit noisier in the blue BG , but I might be wrong .

Cool work , Joe

TFS Andreas

Jonathan Ashton · Dec 11, 2021

I have taken a couple of looks at this Joe, I like it! I haven't seen one in the flesh as it were or for that matter so up close and personal - lovely colours and hues. Focus looks spot on, the background provides a pleasing contrast.