Eared Grebe Pair

[Jeff Dyck]

Yet another shot from the kayak...a beautiful pair of Eared Grebes from southern Manitoba. I took a long weekend trip to southern Manitoba last month with the intent of photographing "rushing" Western Grebes - unfortunately, I found myself there just a little too late (hundreds of birds - almost no rushing!). Although the weather wasn't the most cooperative, I still found many great subjects to photograph.

I think this image looks better is a pano crop - to much negative space with a standard aspect ratio. The eyes are actually that neon-red color - tone them done?

Canon 1DIV - Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS -- 1/1000 @ f/5.6 -- ISO 400 -- Manual Exposure -- Kayak

[gail bisson]

Wow Jeff!
You nailed this one. Love the silky water and the parallel birds. Excellent IQ and I am amazed that both grebes are in such sharp focus for f 5.6.
I have never seen this bird IRL so I think the eye should be as true to life as possible and trust your judgement on that.
One of your best images yet! Well done,
Gail

[Randy Stout]

Jeff:

Lovely, great matching poses, great that your DOF covered both, eye is amazing, and if thats what it looked like, leave it! Sometimes the red channel will blow out with the red eyed birds and you have to tone it down, but go with what best represents what you saw.

Pano crop def. the way to go with the comp. I might try a version with just the slimmest sliver off the rigth.

Really seems like you are putting your kayak to great use.

Cheers

Randy

[John Ippolito]

Beautiful pair of birds captured in a world of silky water that really pops. Lovely image. Love the crop.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Jeff, good low perspective from your kayak, and well timed to capture the symmetrical poses. I like the detail on their heads, together with those lovely red eyes. The colour and texture of the water puts this up another notch.

[Richard Stokes]

Beautiful shot. They are a lovely bird to photograph.

[christopher galeski]

magic image,sharp,love the silky water.well done.

[Sarah Jessup]

Jeff,
Great low angle and striking eyes. I wouldn't tone them down at all. I've been interested in a kayak for photography. Can you elaborate on your setup for using such a large lens from a kayak?
Sarah

[Sanjeevprakash]

Great Shot Jeff. Nice low angle and as said by other members great capture of the eye. I like them as is.TFS

Sanjeev

[Jeff Dyck]

Jeff,
Great low angle and striking eyes. I wouldn't tone them down at all. I've been interested in a kayak for photography. Can you elaborate on your setup for using such a large lens from a kayak?
Sarah

Thanks Sarah. If you check out this previous thread - Calling Red-necked Grebe - I discuss my kayak set-up a bit. Feel free to PM me if you still have questions!

Jeff

[Daniel Cadieux]

Beautiful! I love the eyes...please keep them intact :-) Two perfect HAs, and great techs. I'd leave the pano aspect ratio as is but put the birds a bit lower in the frame.

[Marina Scarr]

Killer image of these gorgeous creatures. Love the colors and the pano crop. I am with Daniel for trying to put the birds lower in the frame.

[Jim Crosswell]

Beautiful image Jeff! I like the low angle, HAs, calm water and red eyes.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Gorgeous image, Jeff. Great job getting both sharp, with great HAs in gorgeous silky water.