Red kite in flight

Took this a little while ago and have entered this shot into a couple of competitions but the judges dont realise this is just one red kite over 1/2 second. I have had comments like nice photoshop cut and paste or that I was lucky to have all the red kites pose for me. I judge even said the position of the birds wings looked wrong!
I am trying to show the movement of 1 red kite diving down on to its prey & shot this at 12 frames a second whilst tracking the red kite and then arranged them in photoshop in such a way that the birds head was always looking at the same spot. The only valid comment I have had is its a pitty about the cloudy sky!

I would appreciate comments and if any one can suggest a title which makes it easy to tell judges that this is 1 red kite diving I would appreciate it.

The shot was full manual and from memory the settings were f5.6, 1/5000 iso 2000 1dx & 100-400 lens

I really like it! You did a great job! One possible title: "One hawk...One dive."

SJC from VT wrote in post #17506713
I really like it! You did a great job! One possible title: "One hawk...One dive."

Thanks. I like the simplicity of that. Thanks.

Great composite

Where are they finding these judges?! Great series; really impressed that you nailed each shot so well!

neophyte52 wrote in post #17506985
Where are they finding these judges?! Great series; really impressed that you nailed each shot so well!

Thanks. The first judge who marked it gave it 12 out of 20 and didnt even realise it was the same bird !!!

Gorgeous composite, well done. It would look terrific on somebodies wall. (Who ever said judges are smart.)

I am no judge but here are my comments:
1) It looks like a composite of many shots, which 'tags it' into a category where your photoshop skills are being judged rather than your photography
2) The above is reinforced by the fact that the sky is white
3) The manipulation of the bird gives it an artificial look, perhaps it would be better without the manipulation of the bird position?? This would give a better impression of what I believe you are trying to achieve.

The fact that this has been entered into several competitions and not found favour would imply that there may be improvements that could be made. I doubt that changing the title, even if you are successful in conveying that it is the same bird, will change a judges views.

Entering competitions is a great learning experience and you have to have a thick skin - Remember that every entrant, bar one, thinks the judge (s) is/are wrong!

My 2p worth

John

Thanks for your comments. The interesting thing is everyone else including some pretty good wildlife photographers really find it a great shot.
individual images from this composite do well in comps but combining them seems to detract from It for some reason. Oh well.

cerett wrote in post #17508110
Gorgeous composite, well done. It would look terrific on somebodies wall. (Who ever said judges are smart.)

Thanks very much. I have printed out a copy 20"x30" on canvas and it does look pretty cool.

I like it, but what the Judges are looking for could be different.

Really cool.