Black-shouldered Kite

[Syllog]

Got some very good views yesterday of a young Black-shouldered Kite yesterday in grey, cloudy conditions. These were my favourites but all lack detail or spark in the eyes - just wondering what your thoughts were. For images 1,2 & 3 the filter sun was behind the bird to the right. Image 4 the bird had moved and the filtered sun was behind me.
All images taken with Fuji X-T3 XF 100-400 at 400mm

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1/2000 f7.1 ISO 1600

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1/3200 f7.1 ISO 400

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1/3200 f7.1 ISO 640

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1/3200 f7.1 ISO 640

 

[Woodyg3]

Really nice shots

 

[Syllog]

Thanks Woody - the lack of connection with the eyes is not an issue for you?

 

[KirstyM]

Images 1 and 3 both have some detail in the eye, which you could bring up with some very gentle post processing… not too much, but it is a brown eye rather than a black one so will forgive a little lift of shadows and highlights, maybe a tiny bit of + exposure and increase the white… all of this at minimal levels so that you don’t create a Frankenstein! (That’s all I would do in lightroom, via a radial filter over the eye).

 

[Ralph]

Got some very good views yesterday of a young Black-shouldered Kite yesterday in grey, cloudy conditions. These were my favourites but all lack detail or spark in the eyes - just wondering what your thoughts were. For images 1,2 & 3 the filter sun was behind the bird to the right. Image 4 the bird had moved and the filtered sun was behind me.
All images taken with Fuji X-T3 XF 100-400 at 400mm

View attachment 28310
1/2000 f7.1 ISO 1600

View attachment 28311
1/3200 f7.1 ISO 400

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1/3200 f7.1 ISO 640

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1/3200 f7.1 ISO 640

Excellent Series!

 

[Syllog]

Images 1 and 3 both have some detail in the eye, which you could bring up with some very gentle post processing… not too much, but it is a brown eye rather than a black one so will forgive a little lift of shadows and highlights, maybe a tiny bit of + exposure and increase the white… all of this at minimal levels so that you don’t create a Frankenstein! (That’s all I would do in lightroom, via a radial filter over the eye).

Thanks for your suggestion Kirsty - much appreciated. I followed your advice and updated images 1 & 3 can be seen below

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[Syllog]

Excellent Series!

Thanks Ralph

 

[KirstyM]

Thanks for your suggestion Kirsty - much appreciated. I followed your advice and updated images 1 & 3 can be seen below
View attachment 28416

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Oh yes… for me, that makes all the difference! And they were a lovely set anyway, but your edit brings the final touch.