Photo Contest Entry: I am being encouraged to enter a photo of mine in a Bald Eagle photo contest. I am a bit hesitant and would like the opinion of my fellow hedgehoggers. Do you...

MarkintheHV Loc: Hudson Valley

I am being encouraged to enter a photo of mine in a Bald Eagle photo contest. I am a bit hesitant and would like the opinion of my fellow hedgehoggers. Do you think this photo is good enough for a contest? Also, would you recommend any further post processing? Feel free to add any recommended edits.

Thanks

(Download)

JFO Loc: Oregon

Lovely photo. I think it should be titled, Turning on Final". John O.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I might be tempted to try and clone out the top highlight in the background. My eye keeps on drifting up there to try and figure out what it is. Eagle-wise, I wouldn't touch him. Perfecto.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Turing Final is nice suggestion for a title! Now is it good enough?!! Why do you ask do you have better ones? Are you holding out on us? (Just kidding!!)

Ok, is it me or is the focus slightly off? Motion blur? To my eyes the bird is not in crisp focus. Maybe it's my old eyes.

woodsliv Loc: Tehachapi,CA

MarkintheHV wrote:

I am being encouraged to enter a photo of mine in a Bald Eagle photo contest. I am a bit hesitant and would like the opinion of my fellow hedgehoggers. Do you think this photo is good enough for a contest? Also, would you recommend any further post processing? Feel free to add any recommended edits.

Thanks

To me the eagle is perfect. In download it is crisp. All I would do to this is lighten it up a little.

jsharp Loc: Ballwin MO.

I would call it Final Approach.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

On the hog it looks overall too dark, but on download it looks very good. If you can mask the eagle and lighten the background so the bird stands out more that "might" improve it.
Nit picking types might comment on the focus not being right on the eye.
I like it a lot, enter it, you have to start somewhere. If nothing else their comments will tell you what to try for next time.

MarkintheHV wrote:

I am being encouraged to enter a photo of mine in a Bald Eagle photo contest. I am a bit hesitant and would like the opinion of my fellow hedgehoggers. Do you think this photo is good enough for a contest? Also, would you recommend any further post processing? Feel free to add any recommended edits.

Thanks

macsmom Loc: S Carolina

Is this cropped at all? I think your wings are just a little too close to the edge of the picture. If it's cropped, you can fix that. But hey, I'm a beginner. Otherwise, beautiful photo.

Charlie

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

MarkintheHV wrote:

I am being encouraged to enter a photo of mine in a Bald Eagle photo contest. I am a bit hesitant and would like the opinion of my fellow hedgehoggers. Do you think this photo is good enough for a contest? Also, would you recommend any further post processing? Feel free to add any recommended edits.

Thanks

Its a nice photo, Mark, but I think it needs some PP for you to have a chance. If you approve, I'll upload my take on it.

Lenf Loc: Strasburg,PA

Great capture, I agree a little pp would be a help.

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

MarkintheHV wrote:

I am being encouraged to enter a photo of mine in a Bald Eagle photo contest. I am a bit hesitant and would like the opinion of my fellow hedgehoggers. Do you think this photo is good enough for a contest? Also, would you recommend any further post processing? Feel free to add any recommended edits.

Thanks

Mark it's definitely contest material.
Craig

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

MarkintheHV wrote:

I am being encouraged to enter a photo of mine in a Bald Eagle photo contest. I am a bit hesitant and would like the opinion of my fellow hedgehoggers. Do you think this photo is good enough for a contest? Also, would you recommend any further post processing? Feel free to add any recommended edits.

Thanks

OK, forget the masking I suggested before. Did this in LR 5.7. I thought of cropping a little off the left side, but decided not to in order to maintain the original ratios. Again you need to download to see it, the hog thumbnail is darker than the download. Maybe just a tad more lightness as in #2, but I wanted to keep from blowing out the white on the head.

Turning Onto Final Approach

(Download)

Version 2 of Turning Onto Final Approach

(Download)

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Hopefully now that it has been published on this site it is still eligible for entry.....

MarkintheHV Loc: Hudson Valley

It is, according to the rules, they say only has to be taken by me in the past 2 years at Conowingo dam, and cannot have any watermarks.

Anyone that wants to do some edits is more than welcome.

MarkintheHV Loc: Hudson Valley

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful and constructive comments.