How to Woo A Wilson's Snipe [Archive] - BirdPhotographers.net

Melissa Groo

03-05-2012, 08:01 PM

Canon 1D4
500mm +1.4x
Gitzo/Wimberley spread out as low as possible

1/2500 sec
f/5.6
ISO 800

Took this a week ago in a Fort Myers, FL swamp. I had seen the snipe fly low a couple times by the spot I was situated, and then I became aware of it behind some vegetation about 25 feet in front of me. For about 15 minutes I watched it moving around in there, always keeping something between me and it. I could see only a part of him at any time but enough to see he did a full preening which made me sick I couldn't capture it. He then flew away without fully emerging. I decided I would hunker down as low as possible on my tarp, lie down on my belly, with my tripod as flat as possible, not move, and see if he came back. About 10 minutes later he flew in to my delight, and landed on an elevated area closer to me with a clear view. I got a number of decent shots and am trying to figure out what I like the best. I figured this might be my best chance ever with a Wilson's snipe as they are notoriously flighty.
I included the reflection even though it's not the best as I liked it anyway. This is about a 40% crop. Cloned out some unattractive blobs in the water, and a yellow stem behind him. Sharpening, NR on BG. Got rid of a couple specular highlights on bill and reflection of bill.
Thank you so much in advance for any C and C.
PS If someone could correct my misspelled title, I'd appreciate it! Should be Wilson's of course.

Ofer Levy

03-05-2012, 08:15 PM

What a great shot! Angle, colours, sharpness and detail - excellent stuff!!

Thanaboon Jearkjirm

03-05-2012, 08:31 PM

Love the low angle, the sharpness, the exposure, the details and hint of environment. Good story behind the image too, glad that you decided to be patient and lay flat on the floor, this shot definitely worth it.

Ofer Levy

03-05-2012, 08:50 PM

Hi Melissa, I keep getting back to this lovely image. I now see two tiny things that can slightly improve it IMHO. A slight LEVELS adjustment and 'lens blur' effect on the BG. I don't know whether you go that far with manipulation of your images and you won't be able to enter this to most competitions but I am sure Artie will be happy to have it in BAA competition....:w3

Karl Egressy

03-05-2012, 09:04 PM

Great picture, Melissa. Love the angle reflection and the sense of habitat. Ofer's version is nice too.

Melissa Groo

03-05-2012, 09:12 PM

Thank you all. Ofer, great tips. I just worked on it before I saw your repost (as only read your comments in my email before I reworked, and didn't know you'd put up an image). Quick and dirty but gives the idea, as yours does, I like it better! So thank you for that. And wlll consider it for the contest! Thanks for the encouragement.

arash_hazeghi

03-05-2012, 09:13 PM

great pose details and what a nice low angle. you did well and I like Ofer's repost

Grace Scalzo

03-05-2012, 09:14 PM

Fabulous work, Melissa. Photographing this bird this well is a real accomplishment. Here are a few things I can comment on. I would crop from the left side ( as viewed ) to eliminate the partial leaf. The stem under his bill looks unnatural, like something was cloned there? I would tone down the diagonal yellowish line above his back. I think Ofer's v is pretty but yours is more natural and real to my eye, so that is my favorite.

Dan Busby

03-05-2012, 09:38 PM

I love that your patience and persistence paid off Melissa. That is so much a part of getting good results. Personally, I like the unblurred background best - it's not obtrusive to my eye and looks more real. Agree with slight crop off left.

Cheryl Arena Molennor

03-05-2012, 09:43 PM

Looks great to me and the low angle and reflection are great. the blur does add more attention to the bird so I like that one too.

Robert Holguin

03-06-2012, 12:19 AM

Wonderful image!! Just love the super low angle, great pose, wonderful background, and great detail.
Very well done.

gail bisson

03-06-2012, 05:06 AM

Hi Melissa,
This is excellent.I like it because I know how hard it is to get a shot of these guys. They are sooo...shy and always hiding in vegetation. The low angle is what makes this shot. I like both versions but lean to the original OP if you can deal with the yellow stick that is above the bird. I see the area that Grace mentionned under the bill and would fix that as well. Love the IQ and detail. A beautiful image,
Gail

Dave Leroy

03-06-2012, 01:33 PM

Lots of good suggestions given. I really like the nice low angle and the persistence and patience to get the shot. I prefer the lighter/brighter option in Ofer's post.

Stu Bowie

03-06-2012, 02:37 PM

Hi Melissa, excellent low perspective, and your comp works well with the placement and inclusion of the reflection. Overall sharp, and I like the light, detail and colours. Good to see the surrounding foliage, and I like Ofer's work.

Kaustubh Deshpande

03-06-2012, 03:25 PM

Mellisa, great work here. not easy bird to photograph so well. loved the habitat and the reflections of bird and the vegetation. terrific job in positioning yourself so perfectly.

Frank Schauf

03-07-2012, 02:45 AM

Great reflection and nice colours in the water, Melissa.