From Fort Desoto back in April. A small flock of about 10 birds allowed a close approach, but as is the case with loafing groups of birds it was difficult to isolate one individual. The workaround was to go for close portraits, and even with that I had to clone out a tail tip at right edge! While working on the file I noticed the pupil was slit shaped (cat-like)...I wasn't sure if was the way it was supposed to be or not so I googled it and sure enough I learned that skimmers are the only birds that have pupils that constrict in this shape. You can see it a bit here...cool!!
Canon 7D + 100-400L @400mm, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/1250s., f/6.3, ISO 400 (histogram checked), natural light, handheld, cloned out a tail at right, a few blown highlights in the water tamed via clone tool @ 30% opacity.
Hi Dan, excellent exposure, which in turn has brought out the finer detail very well. Sharp, and interesting fact about the eye - which you have shown nicely. Good low angle of capture too.
Terrific sharp shot. Really puts the emphasis on that great bill. Nicely exposed. I've taken a bunch of close-up Skimmer shots, but never noticed that about the eye. Thanks for the tidbit.
Magnificent portrait, Sir. I like the beautiful low angle, the serrations on the lower beak,slit shaped pupil,which is new to me.
Love the as usual great sharpness,details in lovely colors,exposure and lights.
Regards.