Harlequin wing flap

[Bill Dix]

I might have titled this "Do as I say, not as I do." A week or two ago on this forum I offered advice to Rob on an image taken under almost identical circumstances (same spot, same bird perhaps): "Remove the TC". When lying on the rocks watching this guy, I failed to follow my own advice. When he flapped, he filled the frame from wing-tip to wing-tip, and I cut off his feet. I had to add canvas three sides, and borrow feet from the previous frame. Even with that effort this one doesn't quite make it for me. I wished for a head turn to his right to get the light on his face. And I was unable to move to my left to avoid the OOF rock, because of a crevice in the jetty. And while I'm into self-critique, some fill flash might have been nice. Still, I was pleased to get him flapping.

D7000, 500f4 + 1.4, ISO 640, 1/3200s @ f/7.1 manual.

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent details in the wings , nice flapping pose. Bill.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent action captured, Bill Sir.
I like the wing position, colors and great details.

Regards,
Satish.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

I liked this image the first time I saw it, and still do. I agree with your self critique to some degree. Under the circumstances you pulled off the image well. Very nice post production work. I would post any or all three of the other Harlequin images as a series IMO.



Geoffrey

[Rob Melone]

It's nicley captured Bill and I like the angelic pose, layers on the open wings and the flying water droplets. It goes to show that it is no picnic shooting on a jetty! I did remove my tc last weekend as you and artie recommended and even though it was overcast all day, I did get much better framing with my 300mm tele. And shooting at f/4 in the low light helped as well as reducing my ISO to 200.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I agree with your self-critique Bill, but what you do have going for you here is the terrific wing positions. The water BG looks good too.