Piping Plover

[Alex Becker]

Hi all,

I've wanted to photograph these guys and their chicks for a bit now due to seeing the many excellent pictures posted here so I was happy to spend a morning with them and some oyster catchers (both a first for me in terms of photography) at the Jersey shore earlier this week. I was able to get a lot of shots of the adults and chicks pretty close but this adult came within about 6 feet of me unprompted, although not a perfect light angle. It was a blast.

Here's one of likely many frames I'll post. In post, pretty minor edits, brought up the shadows a bit, cloned out a shell in the corner and a piece of sand on the eye, and rotated the image to get it level (so about a 15-20% crop). I like the bird being pretty tight in the frame here as it helps show the tiny morsel of food.

Camera: Nikon D500
Lens: 200-500mm f/5.6 at 500mm
Specs: 1/2000 ISO 720 f/7.1

Thanks for looking and commenting on prior posts!
Alex

[William Dickson]

Love it. The low POV really sets this frame off. Nice pose and detail on the bird. The BG blending with the FG looks good, as does the DOF. Nice one Alex.

Will

[Bill Dix]

Good one Alex. Great low POV, nice detail on the bird, and on the sand beach. (Sandy Hook?) Love these little plovers.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nice feeding pose. I also like the low angle. The bit in the bill is a good bonus. I agree with you about light angle (especially for the back half and legs). Of course there just had to have something obstructing the foot!

[Isaac Grant]

Good low shooting angle here and a nice feeding pose. As you probably already know I love this species. One of my favorite to photograph. As mentioned the light angle is not ideal and that leaves with a problem with the shadow. I always prefer to have the full shadow in the shot. I know that is not something that everyone cares about but the shot just seems a little incomplete when it is cut off.

[gail bisson]

Terrific POV and IQ.
Agree with you about the light angle.I like the little tidbit in the bill and the little rocks are just the right size to compliment this fellow.
Well done and looking forward to more,
Gail

[Alex Becker]

Thanks all for looking and commenting. Bill, yep this was at Sandy Hook, have you been going there frequently? This was my first time there so still exploring the area. When I saw the little shell blocking the foot it was just like 'of course'...it's always something. Isaac, interesting point about having the full shadow in the shot. Looking at it again and then some other shots with the shadow in it, I do see what you mean and it does seem to make it more complete.

Thanks again all!

[Bill Dix]

Alex, I thought I recognized some of those sand pebbles. I used to go to Sandy Hook more frequently, but haven't been yet this year. Your post made me realize it's time for another trip. Were the Least Terns feeding their young, or is it already too late in the season? There should also be some fledgling Oystercatchers about.

[Alex Becker]

Bill, I saw a couple terns flying with fish in their beaks but didn't see where any were nesting. I think I saw a fledgling OC a ways away but it was in the roped off section so no luck on them. Nice spot though, I think I'll try to go back some early morning this week