Spotted Sandpiper

[Dave Blinder]

Taken in weak diffused light in slight rain, uncropped image. I ran NR on the full image because of heavy grain on feathers and the eye. Levels adjustment. High pass sharpening on bird only.

500 f/4 + 1.4tc, tripod lowered
<table id="Inbox" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%">Camera:</td> <td style="font-size: 120%;">Canon EOS 7D (http://www.flickr.com/cameras/canon/eos_7d/)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%">Exposure:</td> <td style="font-size: 120%;">0.003 sec (1/400)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%">Aperture:</td> <td style="font-size: 120%;">f/5.6</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 120%;" width="30%">Focal Length:</td> <td style="font-size: 120%;">700 mm</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ISO Speed:</td> <td>2500</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Exposure Bias:</td> <td>+2/3 EV</td></tr></tbody></table>

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4822320986_24c578993e_b.jpg

[Gal Shon]

A very nice image in very difficult conditions.
Good result for Iso 2500.
BG is a bit busy for my taste. I would place the bird lower in the frame so that I'll have less from the rock and some more air above.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the angle, pose and eye contact. I agree with Gal regarding putting the bird a bit lower in the frame and might sharpen it a little more. It does look good considering the high ISO.

[Aidan Briggs]

Good job on the subject with the low light! Spotted Sandpipers are very skittish in my experience. I do wish for more room on the top and right.

Looking forward to more!!

[Wilson Hum]

You managed a nice shot of this sandpiper despite the light rain, less than ideal light and ISO 2500 to boot. Agree with more room on top. Busy backgrounds like this can sometimes be mitigated with an even more wide open aperture and moving in a bit more (if possible only). We have Spotted Sandpipers breeding here and its behaviour varies depending on what it's doing at the time :-)