Shag Rock

[cjmchch]

Pictured in South Bay, Kaikoura, New Zealand, this shag offered an opportune moment for me. As a very inexperienced photographer birds are an area I haven't delved into much, but do enjoy the opportunity when they arise.

[Ian McHenry]

Nicely composed capture of this Pied Shag.
Look forward to seeing more posts from you.
Ian Mc

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Nice looking bird and nice pose,I would prefer a more soft light
Welcome to BPN!!!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the pose and perch. The light angle is not ideal. It would have been better to photograph earlier or later and have the sun in your back. The whites look borderline overexposed. A slightly higher angle would have given you a more uniform BG.

[Alfred Forns]

Can only add to move the bird a bid back in the frame Can only imagine this image with late afternoon soft light!!!!

[Glenn Bartley]

Very cool image. I like the setting. As mentioned some more direct and softer light would be the main nit.

[Gayle Clement]

The bird is beautiful. The need for softer light has been mentioned.

[Maxis Gamez]

Besides what already mentioned, I would like to see the bird a little off center.

[cjmchch]

Thanks for all the comments. This shot was taken at probably the worst time of the day, 11:08am. The sun was high and to get this shot I had the sun out to my left. Using my Canon 300mm f/4.0L IS USM lens with a Tamron 1.4xTC meant I was probably a little closer to my subject than I would liked to have been. I also haven't found the 'sweet spt' of the combination lenses yet given they are both very new to me. I probably would have been better increasing the ISO, and increasing the shutter speed, maybe getting to f/8.0 as well. I'll have a play in Photoshop and lighten it up a little.

Model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Shutter Speed: 1/640 second
F Number: F/5.6
Focal Length: 420 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Date Picture Taken: Mar 8, 2008, 11:08:35 AM

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Yes, ISO 200 and f/8 might have been good.