Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

[jacinto policarpo]

Hi to all!!


I'm an portuguese amateur landscape and wildlife photographer, this is my first post and hope that this will be the first of many!


The photo is from a little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) with the first light of the morning and the photo was taken inside water using a floating hide (hidrohide like we call it).


http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5690/img0506800px.jpg


Canon 5dMark II + Canon 100-400 IS -> 1/2000; f5,6; iso 320

Comments and criticisms are always welcome!
Thanks to all!

www.jacintopolicarpo.com (http://www.jacintopolicarpo.com)

[Randy Stout]

Jacinto:

A big welcome to BPN! You will find it a great place to learn and grow as a nature photographer!

I like the concept of the backlit bird, and you have some nice warm sunrise colors, but I find the specular highlights a little bit overpowering, esp. the bright streak right above his head.

I would be interested to see other images of this series if you care to post them. Perhaps one with fewer specular highlights? I think that in certain cases a few specular highlights can be effective, but in a rather dark image such as this, they really pull the eye awayf from the subject.

Again, welcome, and we look forward to more. Please be sure to comment on other folks images, it is a great way to train your own eye!

Cheers

Randy

[Gerald Kelberg]

Hi Jacinto,

I like this very much - finding the outline of the Little Grebe in this mysterious waterscape, sparkling with light.

Also enjoyed having a look through your portfolio on your website.

Hope we see much more from you here!

Gerald

[Daniel Cadieux]

Hi Jacinto, welcome to BPN!!! I like what you were going for here (I'm a fan of silhouettes). Lots of potential with the backlighting and low angle. I'll echo Randy's sentiments about the specular highlights, especially the very prominent one above the head. I'm sure you'll enjoy your time here on BPN...looking forward to more photos, and critiques :-)

[jacinto policarpo]

Hi again!!
Many thanks for your comments!! I'm here to learn!!!

When i make this picture my eyes went to the specular highlights in from of the grebe, but my first thought they could be "forgotten" by the remaining light in the photo (eg the reflection of light like a rainbow)

For example I have some photos of the same sequence (in this case this was made a few seconds before), I believe that it have a little more dynamic by the position of the bird, but I think that the picture loses for having "worse" light (I mean less light in water).

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/1629/img0500800px.jpg
What do you think?

Thanks for all!! Cheers