Up Up In A Tree... It's a Woodstork

[Charles Wesley]

Here's a photo from the week before last at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. At this time I'm only able to use my EF 100- 400 mm f/4.5- 5.6 L, 1.4 TC, 5D Mk 11 and tripod. No way, I'll try my 500 until I can walk without my brace. That makes my birding season a wash out. Oh well that's just the way it goes.

The wood stork was about 45 ft. away and at a fairly step angle. My exposure was 1/500 sec. @ f/5.6 ISO 200.
My workflow consisted of D.P.P. 3.5 and PS/CS4. Tried to get a decent environmental portrait even though it was harsh lighting.

Enjoy
__________________________
Charlie Wesley
St. Augustine Beach, FL
http://naturesphotographs.com

[Tony Whitehead]

Exposure looks to keep detail in the whites. may consider a square crop eliminating the lower branch. Sky is showing quite a bit if jpg artifacting - saving file closer to 200Kb limit may reduce this. File is in AdobeRGB which will influence colour rendition in some browsers. Doing well even without the big gun, Charles. Hope you mend soon.

[Arthur Morris]

Sharp with a good EXP. I am with Tony in wishing to see the lower branch eliminated. Moving right and possibly higher would have helped as the bird's head is angled a bit away from you.

As for, "That makes my birding season a wash out," seeing your season as a washout is a choice. You might consider looking at your situation as a chance to make some great images with shorter lenses. See www.thework.com (http://www.thework.com) to find peace. It worked for me.

Lastly, thanks for your membership support.

[Charles Wesley]

Artie,

Thanks for the sound advise. I miss shooting with my 500 that's all. Need to break out my EF 70- 200 for some flight shots. I've enjoyed using the EF 100- 400 mm L. I considered using it with either the 12 or 25 mm ET to get right up close to some nesting activity along the boardwalk. Not sure about using a WA in Alligator Farm.

Thank you for all your hard work in helping other members get better. Critiques by master photographers like yourself are much appreciated. Have a wonderful day....
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Charlie Wesley
St. Augustine Beach, FL

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Charlie, I am proud of what we have done so far at BPN. I will be critiquing all day long as I am enjoying a day of rest here at Pelee as I spent 12 hours in the emergency room in Leamington, Ontario while passing a kidney stone. Hard to believe that something so tiny--smaller than a grain of sand--could cause so much pain. I am feeling fine now. Do visit www.thework.com (http://www.thework.com) It is an amazing site.

[Charles Wesley]

Artie,

I know what its like to pass a kidney stone. My heart goes out to you. Mine was so intense prescription narcotics only helped a little. I drove myself to the hospital and my the time I arrived the sweat had permeated all my clothing.

I have checked your link already but need to study it more fully. Our house is packed with relatives and I can't get near my computers. Only have this cell phone presently.

Thanks once again for all you are doing....
_____________
Charlie Wesley
St. Augustine Beach, FL

[Arthur Morris]

Well, it sounds like I had it relatively easy compared to you. At first I thought that it was a lower back
spasm.... WIll share the full story in a blog entry later today at www.birdsasart-blog.com (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com)

And YAW.