American Avocet

[arash_hazeghi]

One of the first shots with my new 500 f/4, it has been dark and gloomy in the SF bay area lately, this one is in poor overcast light but I still like it, hope you like it too:)

http://www.stanford.edu/%7Eahazeghi/Photos/birds/avocet%20_low.jpg

Canon 7D + 500 f/4 IS @ f/4 1/1000 sec ISO 800 HH sw Canon DPP.3.7 Digital Processing: crop.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Good exposure control (in part thanks the the "gloomy" weather:)). Nice low angle and profile pose. There is a bit of a halo along the top of the back and forehead, and other parts of the body...

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Arash, lovely low angle, and love the simple pose - shows off the beak nicely. Exposure looks good, and I like the complimentary BG.

[arash_hazeghi]

Hi Arash - you will love that lens. Typical that black mud on the legs, they do that everywhere. I agree with the apparent (top head and back) halo, but to me it looks like you did something to the bg?

Some of it was coming from NR mask, here is a repost.

http://www.stanford.edu/~ahazeghi/Photos/birds/avocet%20_low-2.jpg

[arash_hazeghi]

Arash, much better. Love the bird: is this a female ?

I think (not 100% sure) it is a male, winter plumage.

[LouBuonomo]

Ah much better. They are lovely creatures. I like tthe low angle. I might have popped a bit of fill.
Lou