Marbled Godwit - The aging ballerina [Archive] - BirdPhotographers.net

gail bisson

05-19-2013, 09:09 AM

I like the elegant lines in this shot and the frayed, worn primaries and the split off shard of beak that speak of a hard year. (I know I am anthropomorphizing...):e3
canon 1DX
F 600 mm II and 1.4X III
ISO 800 SS 1/2000
F 8.0
Cropped to vertical. Taken at ~ 6:00PM at Fort DeSoto just as sun went behind a cloud
Comments and critiques always appreciated and learned from with thanks,
Gail

Diane Miller

05-19-2013, 09:46 AM

Lovely and different! Great catch!

What would you think about removing the greenish tint at the top? Just bend the color to closer to the soft brown below it, and maybe crop some. Without the green you have a striking two-tone image, brown and blue.

Miguel Palaviccini

05-19-2013, 11:21 AM

Gail,

Perfect timing on this one! Definitely something different. I was just there a couple of weeks back and was able to capture some nice images of this guy, but didn't get anything like this!

It would be interesting to incorporate Diane's suggestion, but I also like it as is.

Miguel

Stu Bowie

05-19-2013, 11:44 AM

Hi Gail, your comp works well with the Godwit 'bending' backwards looking up into the frame. Good DOF, and the feather detail and sharpness are both tops. I do like the pastel colour of the water too.

Bill Dix

05-19-2013, 01:08 PM

Nice catch, Gail. Great comp and pose. I like the gradation of color in the bg, and the silky water. Seeing the eyes would have been nice, that that would have required a different pose.

Sanjeev Aurangabadkar

05-19-2013, 02:25 PM

Very artistic & beautiful pose Gail. I love it as it is.

Robert Holguin

05-19-2013, 03:01 PM

Wonderful artistic shot and pose.
Excellent shooting angle, very nice light, excellent details, and lovely background.
Very well done.

Daniel Cadieux

05-19-2013, 03:10 PM

This is one of thoe rare avian photos that I like despite the lack of a visible eye...well done selecting this frame to work on. I like what looks to be a bit of tongue showing. Low angle and water texture are good. I just wish for separation between the legs. Well done!

dankearl

05-19-2013, 03:28 PM

My first reaction was that I also wanted eyes, but it is unique enough and artful enough that it works.
The bird does look like it has been through a lot!

Robert Kimbrell

05-19-2013, 04:57 PM

Very attractive pose Gail. I was curious on the feedback you would get without a visible eye. Very nice.

Don Lacy

05-19-2013, 06:00 PM

Love the pose it makes the image well done on all the other things as well.

gail bisson

05-19-2013, 07:21 PM

Thanks for all the positive comments.
Daniel- you are absolutely brilliant! You are right-it is a tongue and not a piece of the beak. Thanks
Robert- I too, was curious as to BPN'ers reaction to a bird shot with no eye,
Gail

Girish Prahalad

05-20-2013, 05:50 AM

superb image! love the pose, IQ & the BG. Lack of eye contact is not an issue, atleast for me.

Satish Ranadive

05-21-2013, 12:52 AM

Superb image. Love the pose,beautiful colors,lights, details and lovely composition.

Regards,
Satish.

Frank Schauf

05-21-2013, 01:56 AM

Very, very elegant image.

David Salem

05-21-2013, 02:36 AM

Hi Gail.
I agree, elegant. Love the colors and the overall scene. Nice vision and well executed.