Just to illustrate, two images both straight crops, no other adjustments.












Roger.

Thanks for looking & for your comments.

Peter, no there was no selective adjustment to the light on its face/breast as such. I did, however lift the highlights a little & increased the darks by rather less, over the whole image. I also de-saturated the colour a tad because the red on the bill really was a lot brighter than in the"wild"!
The effect you (both) remark on is, I believe, due to the Water Rail's head & breast area being generally lighter than the greys on the rest of the bird's plumage......
It was, also, under dappled cover, with small patches of quite bright sunlight falling on the stream. All while facing the camera, which was in a more open position.

Nigel, I didn't, & wouldn't, use flash on wild birds, particularly on a bird as shy & unapproachable as this
one!!! The eye catchlight comes from the lighting situation, generally. (See above)

Thanks again for your interest & comments,

Roger.

All K5, 150-500, yesterday.

A Wylye Valley stream, with Water Rail....













Salisbury Plain....

Mixed Herd on the hillside




Raven lift-off












Any thoughts welcome,

Roger.

Extremely well noticed, David!
Just goes to show.... "the more you look, the more there is to see!"

Really good images, thanks for showing us.

Roger.

Freezing cold but great light!

All K5, 150-500.
TAV, 1/2000th. @ f8.
Handheld.
Elements 11.



































Any thoughts most welcome.

Happy New Year, All!

Roger.

Thanks, Peter.

Roger.

trees in the afternoon / setting sun.

Both K5, 150-500, handheld.












Any thoughts most welcome.......


Roger.

This landed on my bench, this afternoon....
Brought home in an empty wood screws' box, to the "studio".

K5, 100mm. D FA Macro, the second plus 30mm tube & Tamron 1.4 converter.
AF280ft flash, bounce of f a sheet of white paper.

Handheld, manual focus.















Any thoughts, most welcome.

Thanks for looking,

Roger.

Just as a post script, a couple of images from this evening....

The exuvia left in the water,







after the emergence over (last) night of the adult




and thanks again for all the interest shown in this project.

Roger.

Thank you, everyone for your intest & your comments which are most appreciated.

Roger.