Originally Posted by
Nicks Pics
Hi Joe,
Not that I consider my posts as such, but it's great to see some excellent bird images posted here to look at. All of these have a great amount of detail, (though I can't quite see how much detail there is in the egret, being of small size) and all look like they have few imperfections, if any. I am wondering about the dark line at the top of the anhinga's bill, whether that is just natural or if it is an artificial outline made from sharpening. Very smooth surfaces can sometimes show a pencil-outline look after sharpening. It is interesting that you mentioned the angle of the light, as I was noticing the angles as I viewed the photos, I don't mind the angled lighting on the heron or the egret, as their faces are not shadowed it is probably beneficial, for a photograph, as it helps them look more three-dimensional whereas the gull looks a little more flat.
I want to compliment the composition on the egret and the Lark. The river and the flowers along with the flying egret in the frame is a special capture. The lark is great too, with the off-set bird and the flowers on the other side. I looked at the data from the lark image(I hope you don't mind) and I'm wondering why you would choose to shoot at iso 640 to get 1/2000 shutter speed, rather than use lower settings for a perching bird. Or it could be that you were just prepared for flight.
Thanks for sharing!