Empty-handed

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Photographed this Yellow-billed Spoonbill this morning in western Sydney. This is the less common of the two species we have Down Under. I spent a good half an hour or so in its company at a small roadside pond. I am not sure if it actually had a catch here, or if it did it was very small.

30D, 300mm f/4L IS USM, 1.4x, ISO640, f/5.6, 1/2000th, +1 EC, HH, almost FF.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3MBVTZWOMPc/TBX4e_OCMxI/AAAAAAAAAtI/xySUmcJhf60/s1600/Yellow-billed-Spoonbill_0289.jpg

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the ligthing, action, eye contact and sharpness. The white plumage could go a tad darker for my taste. I was wondering, too, if the spoonbill caught something. :)

[Gerald Kelberg]

Hi Akos,

Nice spoonie! Nice low angle and plenty of feather detail. Because of the shape of the bill, to me, spoonies either look really amazing and impressive or they look really "gormless" - and I think this is one of the latter; but I like it!

Best, Gerald

[Harshad Barve]

Akosbhai , excellent pose , BG and angle here ,
TFS

[Jeff Parker]

Good job! Nice light, sharpness, head angle and action.

[Kiran Poonacha]

Hey Akos Bhai, nice to see you post.. Loved the timing here, nice whites and the open bill adds well.. well done..

[Rod Warnock]

Action and atmospheric added to by water droplets !! Well done Akos !!
Best regards
Rod Warnock

[denise ippolito]

Akos, I like the pose and water drops. Whites look good to me. Nice details :)

[Daniel Cadieux]

This guy has a rather happy looking expression on it's face! Quite sharp as posted, and the whites look good to me too. I like the subtle hint of vegetation in the dark BG. The water has a certain "hazy" finish to it, and odd how the concentric circles disappear at right...

[Raymond Barlow]

superb image mate, the action is sweet.

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Bro, I like the eye contact and low angle, and overall pretty sharp detail captured on the spoonbill. Good to see the droplets between the bill. Well captured mate.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Akos, I like low angles and this one's done brilliantly. Sweet light too. way to go on the expression. And just loved the BG here.

[Michael Stern]

Excellent work...looks like it is right for an "Audobon" collection! Very appealing!!
Low angle...exposure sharpness all well done!!!
Congrats!!
Mike

[Fabs Forns]

I like the dramatic presentation and the soft light, lots of detail in the thick plumage, open bill and water drops a big plus.

[Lorant Voros]

Nice to see you posting again, Akos brother. Very nice bird and great techs on your end. I especially like the sweet light, beautiful detail, the open beak and the water drops. Well done.

Lorant

[John Ippolito]

Akos, nice job on the timing for the open bill with water droplets. Good detail on the nicely lit bird with the dark BG. Well done mate.