Stilt Sandpiper Victory Pose!

The Stilt Sandpiper has been my favorite species of shorebird since I first saw and photographed one in August of 2007. That was also the last time I photographed one...until recently! A very cooperative juvenile stayed for a few days, and in celebration of me being able to photograph a Stilt Sandpiper for the first time in 12 years it gave me the "score" pose :bg3:.

Canon 7DII + 500mm f/4 II + 1.4TC III, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/1600s., f/5.6, ISO 1600, natural light, handheld, added canvas top as the very tips were almost touching up there as it took me by surprise (and also added to the right to retain the ratio), toned down the brightest whites via burn tool.

Really nice image. Like the smooth seamless transition from foreground to background.

Great pose and setting. Love when the background and foreground blend together so smoothly. Great Frame.

Congratulations! A lovely frame and the shorebird equivalent of a high five. I'm envious; I've yet to photograph the species.

Perfect water with the layered blues, perfect HA and love the full stretch.
I am not sure about where I would have cropped the reflection but I think you chose the best option,
Gail

I like the silk water and the wing stretch.

This is beautifully captured and presented.

TFS

Lovely bird and nice work getting the photo..
Tough comp, I would want a reflection but there is a lot of space on the right...
Maybe vertical?

A victory indeed Dan. Beautiful light and perfect wings up pose. I agree that you chose the best crop for the reflection given the amount of water movement. Water into BG is sublime

Mike

I love it as presented and yes, the crop of the reflection is dead-solid perfect. Could the face use a smidgeon more sharpening?

Ditto to all the wonderful positives mentioned above.

a

ps: ever see one in full breeding plumage???