Wilson's Snipe

[Mike Milicia]

EOS-1D Mk III, 500mm f/4 + 1.4xII, 1/320, f/5.6, ISO 800
Fill Flash at -2
Full Frame

Photographed from car using BLUBB.
Removed large "dropping" from top of post.

This is another image that I found recently while looking through some old files that I had never processed.
This is from a May 2008 visit to Burns, OR.

Looking forward to your comments and critiques!

[Arthur Morris]

Everything about this is spectacular except for the post. Not much that you could do about that except return in about 100 years when it is well weathered. SH, EXP, BKGR, open bill, and species are all excellente.

[Tony Whitehead]

Love the pose with open bill, soft light and BG. Perch is the only drawback.

[Tom Rambaut]

Dito perch - if only it was not new. Lovley bird though and BG. This species has a great looking bill, and it's open.

[Stu Bowie]

I like the pose and sharpness, and the open bill adds interest. Killer BG, and post already mentioned.

[allanrube]

+1 on what has been said. I would be happy to have captured the snipe. You do the best you can :w3

[Bill Dix]

Certainly the best image of this species I've ever seen - although I can't remember that many. Ditto all of the above comments re pose, BG, light, open bill. Only drawback for me is that critical sharpness seems best around the leg and breast, and falls off just a little at the head and neck. But not enough to spoil a very fine image.

[Luis Villablanca]

Great capture of this skittish bird. I've also seen them perching on posts when I go to the sierras in late spring.
I agree with the comments above. On my screen it looks a bit too contrasty, but other than that I really like this image.

[Andrew Merwin]

An excellent image. I have repeatedly tried to photograph these birds without success. Every time I have seen one it is disappearing into the brush. I agree with the above comments. That said, the neat thing about the perch is that I can see the feet.