6 week old loon

[allanrube]

I liked this loon watching me - is it smiling?

D300s, 300 f.4 with 1.4 tc
1/1250 at f 6.3 with -1.3 EC
(auto) iso 200

79169

[Scott Frye]

Nice low shot and I like the orange eye -- the cluttered water is a bit distracting to me -- would be great to see this guy in clear water

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Definitely smiling :)
The water doesn't bother me at all. Great low angle with lovely details and sharpness.

[allanrube]

The water tends to be all blue when a loon is out in the middle of the lake. But when it gets closer to shore the water color always has a mixture of colors depending on the foliage at the shore.

[Randy Stout]

Allan:

Does look like he is happy/smiling.
Excellent exposure, showing the vertical banding on the breast, not always seen.
This image really show his transition from chick to juvi, with the intermediate feather patterns.

Good explanation on the water. I get so used to seeing this in my loon images, that I tend to take it for granted.

From a crop standpoint, I might try to move him a bit towards the left side of the frame, esp. if you have a bit more canvas on the right to play with.

Cheers

Randy

[Bill Dix]

Certainly looks like a happy youngster to me. Nice colors and details; agree with a bit more room to the right. Water looks good to me. Seems he may be listing a bit to his right; maybe a little CW rotation?

[Paul Lagasi]

He's probably saying...I'm looking pretty good. Low angle, sharp from front to back..agree with more room to the right, but just a bit....TFS

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Allan,

Nice one! I would move the bird a little bit to the left so there is more room on the right as suggested by the others. It is amazing how quickly they grow. I have spent the summer shooting a pair of loons with two chicks at family cottage. I find at this age it is hard to get a family portrait of them - parents and youngsters spread out quite a bit.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I am fine with the water myself. I do find it a little centered though. What a little cutie this guy is! Nice HA and light! :)

[Marina Scarr]

Love the feather detail you captured here. Water doesn't bother me at all. Agree the juv is a tad too centered. You had lovely light and couldn't have asked the juv to pose at a better angle.

You must be having a ball watching these young birds progress in their development.

Marina

[allanrube]

The image was not cropped so there is nothing to add on the right. I did take a bit off the left. How is this?
79216
Problems in my kayak:
1) Was using a non-zoom
2) Kayak often floats too close
3) bought a Nikon 80-400 which helped composition the next time I went but IQ is not as good as 300 f/4 with 1.4 tc

[Randy Stout]

Allan:

I prefer the repost slightly over the OP. I tend to like pano style images for loons, and might also consider a small crop off from the bottom now.

I have an 80-400, but have never used for loons. For me, I need to be at f/7.1 or so to really like the IQ from that lens, and the lighting I like won't allow that f stop.

I shoot from several different boats, and rely on a variety of trolling motors to allow me to keep my distance without disturbing the birds.

I wonder if one of the Hobies with pedal drive would work, so you could keep your hands free?

Cheers

Randy

[allanrube]

Good advise Randy. I will go back to using the 300 (haven't posted any 80-400) but another kayak is out of the question for me.