First Day of My Life

I had watched this little newborn piping plover as it hatched it's way out of the egg at around 5:30 Sunday morning.

By 10:00, all 4 had hatched and by noon, there were foraging in the fore dunes.

I had to leave around 4:00pm and this little one and one of it's siblings (just out of frame), climbed on top of this little sand knoll and conked out.

The direction of the lighting wasn't perfect, but I certainly wasn't going to crawl through tern nests for a better angle. Sometimes you've got to take what mother nature offers up to you :)

Nikon D300, 500AFS~VR with a TC17EII, ISO640, F9, UniWB preset, center weighted metering with +.7 EV compensation.

Nice work Jim and I agree that in these situations, not disturbing the birds is the best way to go.

I would crop more off the bottom where it is OOF. If you are not adverse to doing it, the leave in the back near the bum could be cloned out.

I like his sleepy look - it tells the story.

Jim, Such a nice image, and memories that will last you a lifetime. I agree with Robert's suggestion for trimming the bottom as it doesn't add anything. When working with babies as new as this, sometimes I try to highlight their smallness by including a fair amount of negative space. I feel like the baby might be a bit big in this frame, but it's certainly a personal interpretation.

Jim, Perfect capture! Bob

Beautiful image with good exposure and excllent detail. Love those images that share the first few moments of life. I agree with Roberts suggestions. Thanks for sharing this wonderful capture Jim

Good move not crawling through the nest site. Sweet image. You made the most of what you were given. I might crop off the bottom somewhat as too much OFF foreground becomes distracting.

Sweet image Jim !!! Agree on not moving around the area. Love the feel and mood. Would agree to taking some of the bottom and evicting the plant !!! I like this image a lot, watching those little guys must have been fun !!!

I like that little darned piece of vegetation :)

I guess I agree with the cropping of the bottom.

I had left it intentionally as the little tyke was actually elevated on a tiny sand hill and this made it appear as it did to my eyes at the time of capture.

However, I will play with the crop tonight, forget what I actually saw and see if it presents better the cropped way.

I am certainly always open to good advice.

The most difficult part of shooting these little fuzz balls is getting the focus nailed, which you handled to perfection. Nits mentioned, Jim.

Hugh

really cool shot Jim, I am not sure how I would crop it, but I like what you have here.