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This image was created on 17 May 2021 in a marsh down by the lake at ILE. While seated on a milk Crate, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 640. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/1000 sec. at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual mode. The exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. AWB at 7:10am when a big cloud covered the sun for a bit. Wide/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed just about perfectly.

Just as a big cloud slid in front of the sun, this male Black-necked Stilt strode by right in front of me and my milk crate. I grabbed the 2-6 off of my work table — another milk crate — to my left, leaned to my right around the tripod mounted 600 GM, dialed up the ISO, and fired off perhaps a half dozen frames. This one, with the balletic pose, was magical. The raised foot with the bill perfectly centered on the white neck gives the bird a quite elegant look. At least from where I sit.

Ballerino is slang for a male ballet dancer, and danseur noble is the French version. The bird in Image #1 certainly qualified, if only for a brief instant in time.

To learn more about the creation of this image, see the active AF point, and read something interesting, check out the Ballerino or Danseur Noble. With Zebras, Eye Tracking AF, Topaz, and RawDigger, Is Bird Photography Too Easy Now? blog post here.

with love, artie

Nice pose with the raised foot. I do love the high key treatment here. The framing is right on. I could see the bird higher in the frame.

Great pose on the bird, lovely details as expected, the hint of green at the top really appeals to me. I find the reflection a little awkward, would it look too un-natural with it removed?

Covid permitting I'll be in Florida next spring, this will be one of my target species - they're just so elegant

Mike

Hi Artie, magical indeed. Wonderful pose... My only reservation when looking at the image was the virtual leg knowing how long the legs are. You certainly know more than I so I am sure you have it correct. Thank you for sharing.

P.S. Make the title of the image longer, darn hard to click on V....:wave:

Artie, the image glares at me, the blacks seem splodged in parts, sorry it is not comfortable to look at for me. Maybe of course my eyes are more sensitive to light than many - I don't know. The pose is beautiful, I am struggling however to see detail in the plumage, it is there but not very clear. I don't think you will agree with my assessment but hey that's why we submit images - to gauge other opinions and see if we would consider adopting any of the suggestions even if we don't necessarily concur.

The whites and blacks look perfect from here. no issue whatsoever.

I like the image and the soft light but I'd really like to see the ruby red eye in the BNS which is not possible in overcast days.

TFS

Gret bird and great pic, like the elegant toe point

Hi Artie ... nice clean shot, of a elegant looking bird .
The pose is making the bird looking like a ballet dancer .
That round ripple in the water is very cool .

TFS Andreas

Artie, what a poser this one was! Raised feet gets all the love and no lack of love for this one.

The striations coming from top are very interesting and they frame the subject nicely.

Two main comments from me are yes, just a touch more below I think would enhance viewing. Also, I see quite a bit of blue in certain areas of the subject (along the white/black transition of the wing and at the base of the beak). Might be worth brushing that out.

Well captured though, pleasure to view!