Wind Against Sun...

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created on the last (very brutal) morning of the DeSoto IPT with the hand held Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with Internal 1.4x Extender (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/973129-REG/canon_5176b002_ef_200_400mm_f_4l_is.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CA2004004IS/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCA2004004IS) (with the internal TC engaged at 560mm) and the Canon EOS 7D Mark II (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1081808-REG/canon_9128b002_eos_7d_mark_ii.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CAE7D2/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCAE7D2). ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop: 1/1600 sec. at f/5.6 in Av mode.

AI Servo Zone/Shutter Button AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding). The system activated three AF points on the bird’s folded wing, slightly beyond the plane of the bird’s eye leaving the eye a bit soft. A bit of Eye Doctor work and a Contrast Mask on the face rectified that problem spectacularly.

With a nasty west wind and clear skies in the morning conditions were really tough.... Read the whole story and see the before and after cleanup versions here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2015/05/02/26698/) on the blog.

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments welcome. a

[Karl Egressy]

The image after clean up looks much better. Excellent pose and image quality. Love the tuft lying in the wind.
My very first day ever at that beach was extremely windy and I feared it would damage the camera/lens but it did not.

[John Robinson]

Interesting one Arthur. Tiny bit tight for me but no deal breaker. Like the BG
What is the bird by the way ?
John

[Arthur Morris]

Interesting one Arthur. Tiny bit tight for me but no deal breaker. Like the BG
What is the bird by the way ? John

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. a

[Daniel Cadieux]

Killer pose, and those windy conditions gave you neat flowing feathers. I love the blues in the BG. The cleaned up beach looks so much better. I can detect a couple of repeating patterns along the lower part, but only because it is known the beach was cleaned up - otherwise it would have passed undetected.

[David Cowling]

I think that the strong wind has added an extra dimension to this image, the ruffled feathers and flying tuft add to the feeling of rough weather. I like the pose and graduated blues in the BG but am wondering why the left foot is missing, is the bird standing in foam? I like the way that the eye stands out making a focal point.

[Arthur Morris]

The missing foot is hidden behind a depression in the sand, probably a human footprint. a

[David Cowling]

Thanks for the explanation Arthur. A lovely image.

[arash_hazeghi]

love the walking pose on soft sand, perfect exposure and good details