Affection

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I'm still recovering from my quick trip up to Machias. :) I drove about 1,300 miles (2,000km) in two days and photographed quite a few puffins, razorbills and murres. In this one these two razorbills did their grooming game.

http://www.pbase.com/axelhi/image/114809806/original.jpg

1D3, 500f4, 1/500s, f/11, ISO 400

[Aidan Briggs]

Lovely exposure, interaction, and details. Great BG. I only wish both of their heads wer turned towards you.

Well Done!

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

I really like the moment and the poses

[Randy Stout]

Axel:

Nice exposure control with good whites and details in the dark areas. The bird on the left looks like it is really enjoying the grooming. Sharp.

If possible, a step or two to your right might have helped with the head angle of the left bird a bit, but it probably wasn't possible.

Cheers

Randy

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Thanks, Randy! On Machias you have to stay in a blind with a few little holes. The lens hood of the 500 barely fits through.

[Ilija Dukovski]

Quick trip to Machias from PA.
Hm, doesn't sound right, more like an epic trip:)
I'm yet to do the pilgrimage...

Excellent work, as always, in a difficult B&W bird in not easy light
Admire the fact that you've got detail both in blacks and very pleasant
whites. The pose is perfect.

[David Fletcher]

Lovely behavior shot with good details Axel. Heck of a trip!

[Mike Veltri]

Lovely shot, good detail and great interaction.

[Gal Shon]

Perfect exposure, so many details on the blacks.
I love the cut, it's a pleasure to watch.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Great interaction. Looks like it hurts. Wonderful exposure and detail as well.

[Kobus Tollig]

Great one. Well Exposed and good comp

[David Roach]

Exposure doesn't get any better than this!!! The pose and composition is awesome IMHO!!

[denise ippolito]

Axel, I don't mind the head angle, I think the interaction is what is important in this shot. Beautiful details in your darks.

[Mark Dumbleton]

Super interaction! Great detail and sharpness with stunning colours and BG!

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

WOW, that is painful :D Excellent image Axel. Lovely expo and sharpness. Very nice action represent the seriousness of the moment. Don't really agree on different headturns.

Szimi

[Phil Ertel]

Very very nice! Great capture of interaction.

[Ramon M. Casares]

I didn't really mind the rock, I could live with both options, being the OP better to me for the simple fact that it has no retouche on it. Lovely light, comp, detail, exposure, BG, comp and behavior!Congratulations!

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Lovely!
Great interaction captured here.

[Stu Bowie]

This is simply brilliant Axel. The tender moment, the pleasure seen by the receiver, and the the exposure, colours, and sharpness, just perfect. You turn out so many great images, but I rate this one of your best. Congrats.

[Lana Hays]

Axel
The affection shown certainly makes this one a fabulous image. I really didn't even notice the rock at the bottom so it's not an issue one way or the other. Great job photographing through a small blind hole......I've done it and it's not easy. Obviously the trip was a marathon.....but certainly well worth it. I won't make it there this year....but maybe next.

[Wayne Wood]

love the interaction here Axel, great detail in the blacks. All in all a terrific image

[Filomena Larson]

What a nice catch. Tough shot to get two birds so sharp, no shadows... great interaction... very well done.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Hi Axel, wonderful image, interaction and details. Considering your 'gun hole' setup, an impressive image. Having had a second look at it, I believe you could do without the rock. Had to repair your copyright :).

Thanks, Peter! I thought about it, too, but eventually decided against it because I thought it looked as if the bird on the right was coming out of nowhere.

[Bob Malbon]

Axel, Super job on the blacks and whites of these almost impossible birds to photograph! Best I have seen!!! Bob
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