Oh uncle!
What to say? I am so confused. This shot looks so animated and so perfect at the same time. I loved the way the vulture is staring. It's sharp eyes taking the viewer's eye to the feathers, limbs and then the tree trunk.I just loved this portrait. I am a fan of yours Uncle!

Regards
Nirvair

This is so unreal looks like a studio shot, when I saw the title I did not believe that why you would go for a portrait. When I opened up now I know what makes even portrait looks creative. The subtleties of the surroundings and the pin sharp spot light on the eye the squarish crop makes it looks like a human portrait.

This is really class - absolute class. Just love this image to the core. Technical brilliance both on and off the field. Great one for a B&W conversion. But just for the simple hint of comparison can you show how a color image looks like ? As VMR told this looks right out of a studio

Shiv, here is the color version without burning the sides of the frame.

While burning and dodging was invented to work around limitations of medium to represent all intensity levels B&W photographers routinely use them to give artistic touch to the images. You may notice that in works of Nick Brandt and other B&W photographers. The main challenge is right mix of burning and dodging so that the image does not look very artificial. I am not sure whether the one I presented here went to the other extreme - frank views will be appreciated - now you have the reference color version too Also, as usual if you are not on a calibrated display dark regions appear darker than what they really are. In this above B&W image there are no pure black pixels (with 0 intensity). Most of the darkest pixels that you see starts from about 5. Also browser like Chrome may not be rendering colors/intensity properly (at least on Mac for sure).

Easily one of the best portraits that I have seen, outstanding Ganesh, the feathers on the shoulders bowled me out . Just too good.

Now i would still say i will stick to B&W itself Just love it to the core.

This is truly classic. The monochrome image is several notches better than color one. The contrast control is simply incredible. No, it doesn't look artificial but definitely looks artistic. Yes, Brandt images popped to mind when i saw this. The square framing works appropriately - vertical would be too tight and horizontal, too much negative space.

Fantastic portrait Ganesh. For me this image is on the very edge of the real and artificial feel of an image. Though it is not hard to resemble this to a spot-light situation in the real world, possibility of a spot-light scenario for a vulture is little distant considering its habitat and behavior. But artistically, this image has a very high impact. It is one of those images of yours which almost literally skips a heartbeat of a viewer.

Ashwin, about the habitat, made this in jungles of Bhandavgarh (not Ramanagar) - you can see them in wooded shaded regions there. Made this in the evening. They are in very large numbers (atleast 50+) there compared 9-10 that we are used to at Ramnagar. They roost/nest on the cliffs but are found all around the jungle depending on food.

Thanks Ganesh. Information helps. Due to firewall issues couldn't see the color version at office. For me that is also an amazing image. But of course the monotone version wins the race. Thanks for sharing.

This is simply astounding. What I have always admired in you and your art is is the perfect blend of technical and artistic brilliance that you bring out in photography. I see that you have been experimenting a lot with square format as well as black and white. Now I see the real results coming out . . . class apart. Loved the feel of black and white a lot.

Have you printed it?

Yes Pramod, made an unsuccessful print - could not pull-off detail in the shadows the way I wanted. Printed it on canvas, may be baryta offers better tonal ranges. First I need to get the print viewing light source..

This is how a portrait be creative!
One of those images i would remember for a long time. As VMR put it, this looks like a studio setup. This is a wonderful creation of your technical brilliance and artistic brain.
-RD

very powerful 'n piercing portrait, ganesh. like the dodging 'n burning that enhances the visual impact of the upper body.

regards.

A very fresh perspective of this subject and I loved it completely ! The monochrome is definitely ahead in terms of artistic appeal but I loved the golden light on it's body a lot in the color version .. Like the mono the bg of the color version too can go through slight burning to get more appeal I feel ..

I am wondering about your workflow here for the monotone conversion as I can see that it is not pure B&W but a very mild sepia instead ! It will be great to know whether you converted it to pure B&W and tinted or directly came to this tint from the color version ! If you have obtained this tint directly then what is the workflow ? Please do consider sharing your knowledge with us it will be a great learning