Just got back from 12 days on the bear boat in Katmai National Park. As we did last year, we got to photograph some young shorebirds in fresh juvenal plumage. This Least Sandpiper was photographed with the Canon 500mm f/4L IS II lens, the 2X TC, and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/1250 sec. at f/10.
Don't be shy; all honest comments welcome.
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Think I'll stick to "flies as art" mate . Excellent sharp details and fine feathering around the head. DOF could be a bit more, but at F/10 with a 500 + 2x TC its not easy. Looks fine as is though and love the low view.
All the best and just to shock you, I've taken up avian, I might get up enough courage yet and post one.
I'm afraid this image is not up to your usual standards. Too little of the bird is sharp as DOF is way too shallow, light and colours are not great, no eye contact, head angle is far from being great, composition is not very strong with too much bright BG at the top.
Positives: Unique angle of view on the bird coupled with the low shooting angle, provides an intimate, more 3-dimensional view of bird.
Definitely more dimensional than a traditional side profile (parallel with the sensor body/head angle). I like the clean look at the feet.
Bird appears to be actively foraging so head angle is fine imo. Fresh juvie plumage looks really good.
Negatives: The light is hum-drum boring, and without good light, the impact of the positives are diminished.