Has Anybody Seen My Foot?

This unfortunate fellow must have had a nest nearby. I got a number of frames of him coming in for a landing in the grass. Nickerson, 2 August.

D500, 500PF, ISO 2000, 1/2500s @ f/6.3 manual, HH.

Sad about the foot, but the Tern seems quite healthy and adjusted to being one footed. Beautiful quality of light, wing and tail positions with calling open beak a plus. Lovely BG, and grasses also.

Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

You're not kidding about the foot. This species can probably survive without it, so that's good news! The IQ looks pretty good despite tough lighting conditions. No shadows is great, but I would like to have a bit more head turn towards you. Calling action helps to mitigate that though. Noise is coming up on underside right primaries - I don't know if you lifted a shadow there. But generally a really nice shot of this species, much nicer than anything I got in similar lighting condition ten days ago.

I love the grassy habitats obtained at Nickerson - I've been saying for years now that I want to go but it just does not pan out! Artistically the missing foot is unfortunate, but it is still pretty cool to see how they adapt and persist to such injuries. Well-balanced comp, great BG, good pose. Did you perform some NR to the black cap? It just seems smooth.

Thank you all. Daniel, you need to get down here. (And of course, I need to get up there.) I have a few other frames of this unfortunate bird in various poses, and a number of other Common Terns, with both feet, in similar landing poses, one of which I will post in due course. I chose this one because I thought the missing foot was an interesting element. The RAW file shows just a tiny bit of texture in the head, and I can see a hint of it here; but I think I did a slight pass of NR on the bird, and may have lost some in processing.

I wish only for a more fully spread near-wing and another foot :) The light was magical.

with love, a

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Arthur Morris

I wish only for a more fully spread near-wing and another foot :) The light was magical.

with love, a

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Thanks Artie. Stay tuned for one with both feet.