Wood Sandpiper Finland

This was taken earlier this year in what I thought was a remote location in Finland. I had driven for hours without seeing another person or car and then stopped at a bend in a stream, close to the roadside, to take some photographs.

I really wasn't expecting so see anyone whilst lying low in the grasses taking pictures. To my amazement several cars appeared over the time that I was there. The occupants got out, promptly filled their containers with the clear water close to the roadside, got back into their cars and drove off ! I was surprised when this happened once, but after the third car appeared, lets say I was not amused.....

However, it is possible that this bird has become used to the the regular "traffic" flow and maybe that helped me get closer to him than I had imagined possible.

More images from my Scandinavian trip can be found HERE
C&C welcome.

Canon 1DMK4, f5.6, 1/500, 500mm

Cheers

Austin

Austin:

I like the lighting, very soft. A bit more over your shoulder would have given more on the face, but it still works for me. The moss/lichen behind the rump is nice, the small point it is standing on, pretty clean water.
I might consider toning down the brightest brown areas above the head, and perhaps just a little on the brighter water reflections around the perch. It does look like it might need a bit of CW rotation.

Interesting story too.

Cheers

Randy

Why were you not amused? Did the folks scare other birds away? The image is sharp and the EXP good but you needed to move a bit to your right to better parallel the subject and you needed to level the camera by rotating the lens in the lens barrel. I keep a bubble level in the hot shoe when I am not using flash.

Love the low angle and soft light. The comp. makes this a very strong image , IMHO.

Nice comp and setting. Agree on the rotation and a slight head turn for me.

Lovely image with good light, sharpness and background - creates a nice mood. Agree with some clockwise rotation.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Always appreciated.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Arthur Morris

Why were you not amused? Did the folks scare other birds away? .

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Artie, This bird disappeared each time a vehicle came to collect water, but thankfully not too far away each time. I was crawling slowly to get closer without frightening the subject away, only for a truck to turn up, the occupant get out and scare the subject away each time. It was just very ironic. I was in the middle of nowhere, yet it was a popular place for locals to stop.

Cheers

Austin

Nice shot; handsome species, found here in eastern Eurasia also. I'm adding my vote for a clockwise rotation. And yes, I'd have liked you to have gone a little to the right, as Artie said, assuming that was possible. Interference from people is, as you seem to realize, a double-edged sword. Had people not been regularly going to your spot, then the sandpiper may not have tolerated your approach in the first place.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Austin Thomas

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Always appreciated. Artie, This bird disappeared each time a vehicle came to collect water, but thankfully not too far away each time. I was crawling slowly to get closer without frightening the subject away, only for a truck to turn up, the occupant get out and scare the subject away each time. It was just very ironic. I was in the middle of nowhere, yet it was a popular place for locals to stop. Cheers Austin

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Thanks for the added info, Austin. I think that you need to thank the folks next time..... Without regular traffic you might likely have scared this one off at the start never to return. I could tell you some stories about folks on the beaches of FLA. Craig is right about the two-edged sword thing....

I like your composition here with the bird on the small island.