Ground Level Rear Screen Obsession

Black-necked Stilt male feeding

This image was created down by the lake at ILE on 21 May 2021. While sitting on a milk crate along behind my flattened Induro GIT 304L topped by a Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro, I used my Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ISO 500. Exposure determined via Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/2000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:35am on clear sunny morning. Wide/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed beyond flawlessly — see the screen capture in the Ground Level/Rear Screen Shooting Obsession and How-to … blog post here.

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments and suggestions are appreciated.

with love, artie

Very snazzy. The low angle is great. Nice how the bird makes a diaganol. Nice and sharp. Detail is excellent.

The master at work, this is what we all try to achieve. Thank you for sharing, Artie.

Sweet. Love the BKG. Enough detail in the blacks for my tastes. It would have been nice if the left leg was in focus.

Artie, the IQ and intimacy this rocks. Love the muted reflection and superb look at the eye. I feel like often times the Stilt head feathers don't come out nicely textured but yours sure did!

This one feels like it could use a touch of CCW rotation. Also, did not check but the whites on the shoulder seem a touch hot.

I'd love to have shot this one. A beauty!

sweet frame, tack sharp and more importantly the red eye against the calm blue water takes it to the top. the top of the shoulder whites are kissing 250's

TFS

One day when im big i want to take pics like this

Love the low POV, the eye. the feeding behavior, etc. All top notch. My only nit is I wish the left leg and tail feathers were in focus. A bit more DOF would have been a little nicer in my opinion. Still would love to have this one in my files.

Hi Artie ... lovely super low POV and the soft light is looking good .
Nice pose and pretty subject .

TFS Andreas

All been said and I agree with all the positives....My fave part is the colouring on the wings....Beautiful.

Will

Very nice point of view. I like the eye.
TFS

Jack and Kurt. Thanks for your (and the rest of the gang's) comments as well. For 38 years, I have been focusing on the bird's eye almost always wide open, so it is not likely that I will change soon. Stop down always brings up additional background detail.

with love, artie