Portrait of Birds - Head and Beak Only

Great high key mono image with a very creative approach - congrats it works very well! Thank you for doing just the head and beak as I asked not everyone followed this request. It would have been rated higher had the beak been in focus but I still have it in my top ten as I just like it. This is a great example of an image that does well due to its 'feeling' and special finish. The white vignette is well handled and whites are white with black detail exquisite for the hairs and the eye detail. there seems to be a touch of aqua in the iris which I also like.

If you can try to tell a short story about the shoot and your approach to the edit -= it helps in competitions to do this and a good habit to develop.

Runner Up! - This is an excellent image and was very close to winning - but for some action or behaviour. Beautifully exposed with great eye contact, catchlight and sharp as a tack! The DoF is outstanding to get the beak and eye sharp is generally tough in a portrait but at f/13 not a problem = good choice! Colour rendition is fabulous. Whites are white with good detail and not blown out. I like the dark bokeh which allows the subject to really pop.

Every photo in the Top 10 was extraordinary and for many reasons any one of them could have been the winner but only one can. This image was the winner for one important reason - the bird is doing something1! Congratulations on doing a 'portrait' that actually shows behaviour as well as being technically equally as excellent as the other 9.

Her are my detailed comments from which you will get an insight into my assessment criteria: Eye visibility is good and sharp. general composition is good and I like that you have given breathing space which we would not normally recommend at the top as in this case the bird is looking up with action. Bill and head direction is captured perfectly and the diagonal works well drawing us to its eye. Background distraction is minimal but still gives a sense of environment which I like. Colour rendition is sensational! The blacks and shadows are beautifully handled and almost all the detail in the black is visible - well done - not easy! The red is beautifully rendered and its contrast with the black makes the image very attractive to look at. Noice control is good. Overall the image has action and drama and gave it the winning edge.

Brilliant image that I wanted to review as it shows that mono bird portraits are definitely worth considering and this is a great example. I do them quite often myself and like them if they are well handled. Exposure is good and eye sharp with good catch light. Whites are white, not blown out and blacks are black with good shadow detail even though its low key. Focus is great. Black background works well here and allows the head to pop. Noise control is good. Matching the 'Black Vulture' to mono was a very good artistic choice. Only comment would be to use a slightly faster shutter speed just in case the bird moved. It must have been very still as 1/15 is very slow for bird photography - you were lucky!

This image could easily have been in the Top 10 and I love it! Unfortunately the standard was really very high and I am not just saying that - it really was! I was not expecting this and had to make hard decisions as I was spoilt fro choice. What attracts me most to your image is the colour. The blue and orange is a match made in heaven and this could be a great commercial image for Nikon. Your handling of the whites is fabulous- all the detail is there and it's not blown out. The image has character and emotion as the eye contact is sensational!

You should be proud to have created this image - I would be!