Another Western Sandpiper

[Dorian Anderson]

These guys are in breeding plumage AND in the Bay area for only 2 weeks of each year.

The tides are only right on 3 of those 14 afternoon, and I often loose 1 or more of those to clouds.

Afforded only 1-2 afternoons a year to get this shot, I am very happy with this result. Was worth getting super dirty!

No matter how much I whistle and click, these guys are so intent on feeding they NEVER want to look at the camera.
So, this represents rare acknowledgement of my presence.

Canon 600mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x III on EOS 1DX2
1/4000 at f/5.6, ISO 800
Processed in LR CC without trickery beyond cloning out a few distracting specular highlights on mud

186106

[dankearl]

Your dedication is inspiring...
Lighting is great and angle is your usual muddy perfection.
I might move the bird to the right in the frame, try to get the eye near the center of frame.
You worked hard to make contact, I would emphasize it.

[Bill Dix]

That beautiful breeding plumage looks fantastic in the lovely light and against the great background. Your mud-snorkel POV paid off.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Dorian yet another stunning low POV shot from the beach !!!

Works for me as presented , might try to go slightly thinner in the blacks .
Lovely rich colors and the super smooth FG and BG

Very nice work

TFS Andreas

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Dorian, neat image. A well used couple of days. Nice colors, sharp detail, background compliments. I guess the foot is in the water but when I first looked I thought a little higher would have shown the foot. A agree with Andreas on a little thinner on the black. Thank you for sharing.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Love it! Great low angle and colours. Personally I'd be salivating at that one cloudy day and booking it off from work to go chase the shorebirds lol. Congrats on this image.

[kevin Hice]

Dorian great image and details are fantastic. Love the blues. These guys are hard to get and harder in clean background. TFS and also the story gives some insight.

[Colin Driscoll]

Really lovely shot made better by the effort to get within range.
I am curious as to how you manage to clean yourself up after in order to drive(?) home.

[John Mack]

The low angle is right on. Nice light as well. Really digging that blue.

[Dorian Anderson]

All good suggestions, thanks a lot folks!

[Dorian Anderson]

Really lovely shot made better by the effort to get within range.
I am curious as to how you manage to clean yourself up after in order to drive(?) home.

Stay tuned for my next post......

[arash_hazeghi]

looks good must have gotten really muddy for this one