American Avocet

[David Salem]

This one was taken last year at a local wildlife area. There is a spot that the Avocets like to hang out and if you set yourself up there in the morning, the Avocets come in and land pretty close. They are pretty fast and shifty for their size.

1DMkIV---700mm---f6.3---ss1/2500---ISO640---HH from truck @ 7:45am---25% crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. I appreciate it.

David

[Frank Schauf]

Excellent pose and light, good exposure control and nice comp.

[gail bisson]

Hi David,
I like the landing pose and the water droplets in front of the feet. Tack sharp as well with a nice view of the lovely bill and I like the detail in the right wing.
I think this needs a bit of CCW rotation.
There are some hot spots especially noticeable on the leading edge of the birds' left wing. I wonder if you can get a bit more detail from these areas?
Still a very nice image,
Gail

[christopher galeski]

very nice,good landing pose,great detail and sharp,nice light,water drops add.

[John Robinson]

Agree a slight CCW rotation but thats a very minor critique of a great image. Can really sense that "coming in to land" feeling. Great stuff.
JohnR

[Troy Lim]

Nice landing. Not easy getting them in flight. Sure wish the bear wing is stretched out.

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Gail, I processed this image a year ago and when I saw it last night I decided to post it , I did notice the hot area on the left wing but didnt feel like reprocessing it so I posted. I will tone it down for a final file. Thanks

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the incoming pose, IQ, sharpness, details, BG and water drops. Agree with a little CCW adjustment. Excellent image David!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Dynamic pose, and square crop works well here. I agree with rotation.

[Bill Dix]

Love these elegant birds. Great landing pose -- near wing fully extended would have been even better but as posted is just lovely. Few hot spots noted. I'm frankly not sure how one can tell about the rotation, unless the ripples were in fact horizontal which sometimes they are not. But either way you rotate it, it's a fine image. Beautiful play of morning light on the water.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Awesome action Davis and the light is great too. I also like the pattern of the water

[dankearl]

Your usual excellent work, David!
I know you like them tight., but a bit more all around would look good for me.
IQ is superb.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Lovely details on the bird and gorgeous light on this beauty, David. I just love the colors in that water. Square crop works well for this landing pose. Flying droplets is a nice touch.

[David Salem]

Thanks everone for the comments.

[Glenn Conlan]

Great post Dave, they will be back soon in full breading plumage.

Glenn

[Doug Brown]

Nice landing pose, and I love the water color. It's not easy to photograph action from a truck, but you've got that skill down!

[Holger Leyrer]

The pose is dynamic. Exposure and details looks good. Very nice Image.