The Ultimate Bath

[Marina Scarr]

While in CA recently with David Salem and Doug Brown during their duck workshop, Steve Maxson and I photographed this avocet bathing for several minutes. This particular avocet took the meaning of bathing to a whole new level. What great fun it was to witness and photograph.

Canon 1D4, Canon 500mm & 2.0 @ 1000mm
F9, 1/2500sec, ISO 800, manual mode
Feisol tripod, Jobu head

Thank you in advance for all of your thoughtful critiques and comments.

[annmpacheco]

Hi Marina,
looks fun for sure! Maybe a tighter crop, ccw rotation, and a bit more sharpening, head looks bit fuzzy... Sounds like you had a bunch of fun!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Sounds like fun indeed! Bathing birds are one of my favorite bird photography encounters, but it just does not happen enough! Nice pose, low-ish angle. I agree the subject seems a tad soft (but well focused). Perhaps also a bit of CCW rotation?

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the action, water texture/color, exposure and composition. I agree with a little CCW rotation. Well done Marina.

[Diane Miller]

Nice catch, with great detail in the whites. I'd be tempted to darken and lower contrast on the reflection near the bottom edge, or include all of it if you have it. Agree with the rotation.

[David Salem]

You and Steve sure had a good time shooting this bathing beauty. Nice action and I love the colorful water and the flying water drops. Glad you made it our to the workshop. It was a pleasure shooting with you and getting to know you better. Keep em coming

[David Salem]

Oh, I agree with the need for a little CCW rotation

[Grace Scalzo]

Fun capture, I love bathing birds and this one is indeed exuberant with the task.

[John Robinson]

All been said. Little soft but still works.
Pity about the chopped reflection but thats just a personal thing.
John

[Steve Maxson]

Hi Marina. I remember this bird well - and have plenty of my own shots to process. :S3: It put on quite a show and then gave us a nice wing flap at the end. Nice action captured - and minor tweaks, as noted above, will make it even better!

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image in nice lights. Spectacular bathing pose with nice HA, beautiful water flash and colors.

Regards,
Satish.