Sandhill Landing

Gallery: AvianPosted January 23, 2012671 views15 comments

Here is a Sandhill Crane coming in to the main pool near the Flight Deck at Bosque del Apache. I'm curious to see what people think of this one. I like the composition and love the spread wings on the landing bird. I'm a little ambivalent about the 2nd bird, but overall I think it add to the scene, just wish it had given more of a head turn. And I'm not at all crazy about some of those reeds behind the birds. But I keep coming back to this one for some reason and would like to get some other opinions and to know what you think.

I appreciate your critiques and comments. Please view the larger version if possible before commenting.

Canon 7D, 500mm + 1.4x TC, tripod

f/5.6, 1/2500, ISO 400

Crop to 72% of original (13 of 18MP)

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 23, 2012 at 9:40 PM

Love the landing pose here - and the environment IS what it IS at Bosque!
The second bird is not ideal, but ok. I'd at least lighten up the rear area if you keep it.
You could make a square-ish crop and get rid of the 2nd bird altogether, possibly cloning in some add the top.
I'd personally be happy with this shot.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on January 23, 2012 at 10:46 PM

Of all the photos I have seen from Bosque, I don't think I've every seen a Crane in a poisition like this. Really wonderful capture. I don't mind the second bird at all. It seems like he's watching the other bird come in for a landing. The background has some really nice colors to it. My only suggestion would be to burn down some of the brighter reeds in the back.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Kirchen on January 23, 2012 at 10:46 PM

Brian, the landing pose is great. I keep reading about Bosque del Apache. This must be a magic place.
I view the second bird as part of the scene because it further determines the landing spot. Also, the standing bird turns its head to the landing bird.
You could remove a strip at the right, maybe 1/3 of the empty space. I think that would include the standing bird more into the scene. It would be standing closer to the edge, but it is looking into the frame anyways. Just a suggestion. I concur with lightening up the rear of the standing bird. And perhaps also its face and bill.

Registered on March 6, 2011, 95 Posts, 847 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 23, 2012 at 11:00 PM

I think this is a excellent shot and a wonderful composition. I really like seeing more habitat in bird images instead of the bird on stick image. Not that those are bad at all but it is nice to see both type of images. I like the landing pose and the second bird adds to the image for me. Detail looks very good on the larger image and I think you got a super shot. Well seen and well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 23, 2012 at 11:16 PM

The small version doesn't do this justice - it must be seen in the larger form. I like this a lot as posted - there's a lot of tension in the image from both birds and I'd never consider eliminating the standing crane. Nor would I consider trying to lighten up the rump as that would look artifical to me and would introduce noise from the lightening process.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on January 23, 2012 at 11:31 PM

Brian,
Love this one. The second bird is a plus for me. The reeds in the background are a bit on the red side and if you toned them down a little bit they would not be bothersome at all. That full flaps pose is just killer. Nice capture.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on January 24, 2012 at 12:31 AM

Very nice habitat shot. The large version really makes you feel like you are right there watching it happen. I wouldn't change to much, its great as is. Well done.

Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 24, 2012 at 7:09 AM

I really like the crane's landing pose, details & colors look very good Brian..
I personally like this setting, don't think the lighter reeds BG detract..
In a perfect world the second crane would've interacted better, it seems rather indifferent.
Looks like it's sayin' you can kiss my arse

Very nice as posted

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Hussain Nalwala on January 24, 2012 at 11:45 AM

lovely take.....

Registered on April 18, 2011, 298 Posts, 339 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on January 24, 2012 at 3:53 PM

Very nice light and landing pose. I think the second bird adds alot to the picture but it would also be sweet with just the landing crane alone. The reeds don't distract me and I think they help define the cranes environment.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 24, 2012 at 5:17 PM

Brian, I really like this as posted. I would not change this a bit if it were mine. Love the action and the second bird makes this shot work IMO.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 24, 2012 at 9:50 PM

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the range of opinion as well as with the overall positive reaction. Sometimes I sort of nit myself to death on my own shots evaluating them in front of the computer, so it's interesting to hear the different takes on the the things I was questioning.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on January 25, 2012 at 8:25 PM

Great action, I like the habitat and wonderful background colors.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 25, 2012 at 8:41 PM

I looked at the smaller version, then the larger one and formulated my comment in my head. Then I scrolled down reading other comments before typing (sometimes I do that, sometimes I don't). Rich said it perfectly for me so I won't try to improve on what he said. I wouldn't crop, wouldn't lighten and I like this very much as presented.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 27, 2012 at 8:27 PM

What a great pose Brian

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments