Wilson's Plover- in it's own world

[John Chardine]

This Wilson's Plover portrait looks pretty static but it reflects what they do at certain times of the day- they make their way to some vegetation "cover" and stand or sit motionless. Location was southern portion of Fort Myer's Beach. I chose a composition that would show off the vegetation as well as the bird.

I cropped some from all sides and sharpened as usual.

Date: 21 February, 2013, Time: 0801h
Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x, @ 700 mm
Program: Manual
ISO 800, 1/1250s, f/8

[Marina Scarr]

Lovely capture and I really like the incusion of th environment, esp the whispy 3 green grasses. I think the image would be stronger with a slight crop from the bottom and right.

[John Chardine]

Thanks Marina. I totally agree about the right crop. Saw that as soon as I posted. I'll look at a small crop from the bottom too.

[Dan Brown]

Great bird, John. I really like the habitat and the eye contact. I know that by cropping from the bottom and right would put the bird closer to the "rule of thirds" grid point, but I really like the balance of this op! I have viewed other images lately that I felt needed to be a little ootb as far as the "rule" goes! Just my brain?

[Satish Ranadive]

John:
Excellent image of plover at rest.
I like the environment,lights and composition.
Love the pose,colors and 3D effect caused by BG and FG.

Regards,
Satish.

[PhilCook]

Very nice quality of light in this and agree with you the grasses add a special extra something. Bird really seems to jump off the page and low angle is ideal, and a nice head angle as well, tend to agree that cropping off the bottom to just above your watermark would work a little nicer

[Greg Oakley]

Beautiful image - great bird and awesome setting,
Cheers Greg

[Jonathan Ashton]

I really like this image, the bird in it's immediate surroundings provides a very interesting and informative image. He also looks very relaxed.

[John Chardine]

Thanks for the useful comments everyone. I thought I would try the crop suggestion. I took a little off right and a little more off bottom but then felt it needed some off top too. It ends up being a bit "pano" (which is OK) because I didn't want to crop the veg left or right- I wanted clean edges.

[Tim King]

Very nice, John. I love the setting very much. Fine job.

[Marina Scarr]

I really like the crop in the RP, John.

[Dave Leroy]

A lovely shot of bird in habitat. Very well done. Nice low angle, well exposed and very nice soft feel to it. Repost would be my preference.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi John, overall well exposed, with a lovely angled pose. Im fine with the comp in the OP, but if I had to change anything, I would just take a touch off the RHS. :w3

[Melissa Groo]

Great job on your repost. I really like the relaxed feel of this image, even the eye which is a bit narrowed in rest. Super exposure, and low angle.

[Bill Dix]

Lovely little plover, nicely uplit from that beautiful Ft. Myers sand. Great low POV (isn't that much more pleasant than lying in the snow). Repost makes it even better.

[Robert Holguin]

Lovely shot.
Love the choice of comp showing off it's habitat very well.
Terrific shooting angle, very nice light, and repost is much better.
Very well done.

[Frank Schauf]

Fantastic image! A real beauty.