Silvery Grebe (Macá Plateado)

[Ramon M. Casares]

A little guy, 25cm, not an easy subject here in Argentina, but after a few days of watching them I was able to dig a hole for me in the lagoon shore were these birds feed, I woke up at 4 AM tyhat morning but when I got to the lagoon I noticed that the rain from that night had filled the hole with water.. but it was my last sunset at the lagoon so I got in anyway and, soaked, waited for sunrise, at least after all sunrise was good and I got the shot I was looking for. Hope you like it! Enjoy!

Mark II
70-200mm 2.8
TC2X
Hole-blind or swimming pool blind :D:D
Bean-bag
Full frame.
Tv 1/2000 sec
Av f/9.0
ISO 640 (Very nice light but weak)
Exp Comp +1/3

Comments are welcome and critiques are very much apreciated!

[Don Thompson]

I really like the low angle, the reflection and the color and the soft BG, but the light/white area in the neck and breast seems a little hot to me.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Hi Don, thanks for your comment, here's a zoom-in to the neck and whites areas so you can see how they really look from the RAW, probably the NR or the SAT might give the feel of hot whites, but they seem fine :)

[Raul Quinones]

Ramon,
Beautiful picture, love the colors of the background and water, also nice details and pose.

[Nagesh Mula]

Hey Ramon, Its a nice image and I'm very happy that your hard work really paid off in this case.
I like everything from low angle to clean BKGR. I myself is a big fan of low angle.

[bill kominsky]

Beautiful image Ramon, detail, clarity. BG, color all work beautifully, well done.

Bill

[Adams Serra]

Hi Ramon,
Beautiful image, i realy like the low angle and colors. I think next time i go to Brasil i may have to fly farther south to Argentina.

Congratulations.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

It does appear a touch bright at first, but perhaps it is as it was. A wonderful capture Ramón.

[Bob Blanchard]

Fantastic POV and light! Only suggestion for improvement from me might be to clone out the dark splotches in front of the reflection's head, and the four that are even with his chin along the horizon.

[Juan Aragonés]

What a cool species Ramón, and what a great composition job. The water´s color is to die for and the low angle is really good making the reflection of the bird in the water a key element in the composition. Very good eye contact and superb light.
I checked the histogram in PS and the whites are OK.

By the way, you have to add more information about that "swimming pool blind" :D

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Terrific job Ramon, and I too don't see any ''hot areas''.
Great light, details and compo. A very nice species indeed. There is what to me looks like a dust spot behind the tail, almost next to the edge of the frame.

[Tony House]

Certainly worth the effort put in by you, water colour, pose and the water droplets on the head look superb.


Fine work indeed.
Tony

[Fabs Forns]

Beautiful capture, Ramon.
If you warmed up the image in post-processing, the whites may give the impression of being hot, red channel probably is.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Beautiful capture, Ramon.
If you warmed up the image in post-processing, the whites may give the impression of being hot, red channel probably is.


Fabs, I didn't actually warmed it up, I just gave more SAT in DPP directly to the RAW and the sunset colours came to life, I probably should selectively work on the whites so they don't give that Hot impression. Thnaks!

[Piotr Shpakowski]

Great low angle and colden colours hit this image at the top of the list.I agree whit the comments about the white on the neck.Congratulations!!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great angle, details and light. It almost hurts. :) Maybe a bit less saturation?

[Ramon M. Casares]

Great angle, details and light. It almost hurts. :) Maybe a bit less saturation?

You might be right, I'll try that and repost a new version. Thanks!

[Ramon M. Casares]

Hi all, here's a repsot with a more carefull PP, less SAT and less sharpenning in water, etc, please let me know what you think. Thanks!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the repost even better.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Thanks Axel I apreciate you comming back and commenting on the repost.

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Really the repost is much better!!!

[Mike Lentz]

Agreed! Muy bueno!

[Simon Bennett]

Gorgeous!!!

[Ramon M. Casares]

Thanks to all for your kind words!