Sanderling foraging

[Grace Scalzo]

One of my goals for the year was to create less boring images ... to try and add a little something extra. Here's one that I had in my dreams for a while and tonight, finally got it... the little something extra being the water around his beak. Funny thing is, I was really concentrating on another bird, and just worked on this one when the other was turned away.

1/1000, f 10, ISO 800
Canon 1Dmk4, 500 f4 2.0 tc + ground pod

[Ofer Levy]

I love this! The monochromatic effect and super low angle are really awesome! Don't see the need for all the space at the bottom though.

[Sachin Saraf]

Grace, this is amazingly beautiful image...Excellent low angle, exposure, details, color and yes that water around beak surely makes it different. Great work.

[laurie golden]

Nice goal and nice Sanderling. I like him just the way he is, including enough space below for the vague reflection.

[christopher galeski]

very nice,nice light,sharp with good detail,like the water against the birds bill,good low angle.well done.

[Satish Ranadive]

Absolutely superb image.Love the nice feathers of wings, details in whites and the water around the beak.
Agree with Ofer about crop at bottom.

Regards,
Satish.

[Ken Watkins]

Grace,

You have certainly succeeded in your goal here, the water around the beak makes this a very different image indeed

I agree with others that the space at the bottom is perhaps a little excessive

[gail bisson]

The silver tones are lovely and the water cone around the beak is very neat.
Great low POV and IQ.
I like the comp as is but would also like it with a bit off the bottom,
Gail

[Randy Stout]

Grace:
Your mission was accomplished! Excellent techs, with that little extra that pushes it to a higher level. Good shooting angle too.

For my taste, I would crop up about 1/3 of the free space below the bird, but it is certainly effective as posted.

I am always thrilled when reviewing images after a shoot to see that little special detail that I might not have even seen when shooting.

Cheers

Randy

[Grace Scalzo]

Thanks to all who have looked and commented. To address the space at the bottom...(Ofer, I typed you a response last pm, but must have not hit Enter)....I totally agree that there are other options for composition here. I was enjoying the diffuse reflection and as the bird was foraging in the away edge of a tidal puddle and that's what caught my attention. I do agree that it is a bit much now that I look at it a day away from the creation of it.

Thanks again.

[Bill Dix]

Always nice to see something a bit different, as this is. Love the water ring. And a fine Sanderling shot in all other respects including the soft fg/bg. Space beneath already noted and answered.

[Marina Scarr]

What a lovely capture, Grace, and I love to learn that you have set goals. It makes such a difference at the end of the shooting season. Love the color scheme here, the details and the water by the beak. Agree on some off the bottom b/c I feel it would better showcase the water around the beak.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Yes to less space below...but all else is perfect. Stunning feeding behaviour image!!

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Grace, I call this perfect timing, as the water must have been there for a millisecond. Super low angle, and I really like the soft light and softer colours. Space below mentioned. Congrats on getting your dream shot.

[arash_hazeghi]

great shot, the highlight here is the water film at the base of the beak which adds to the dynamic element. techs are great I would also subtract space from the bottom this can be done by changing the AR from 4:3 to 3:2

great frame

[Gen Benjamin]

Another beautiful image Grace. The beak pushing the water and the wonderful detail is what I think pushes this over the top. I'm torn about the crop, I agree that it is a lot of space at the bottom but I love how the diagonal line of the birds reflection pulls you into the image and that would be lost with a tighter crop.
Just my thoughts
Gen

[denise ippolito]

Grace, sweet, sweet image! I like it as presented. The soft color tones add so nicely to the great pose with the water over the bill.

[Arthur Morris]

Nicely done on all counts. My only suggestion would be to lose the rather large dark blob top center with some 40% clone stamp tool work.

[Arthur Morris]

ps: this is a worn adult well molted into winter (basic) plumage.

[Robert Holguin]

Excellent shot. Love the low angle, excellent pose especially the way the water is formed around it bill. Great details and I really like it as is.
Well done.

[Grace Scalzo]

Thanks again to everyone for your helpful comments...Artie, I will fix the blob. You can see a few of the breeding plumage feathers remaining, one of the subtle details that caught my eye about this bird. Isn't this fresh winter plumage lovely? So muted and fine.

[Melissa Groo]

First of all, Grace, your images have never been boring. They are always technically and artistically superb. I love the ring of water, the soft light, and I actually like the comp as is.

[Josh Clark]

Great pose you got here at an equally great angle. I might consider a slight CCW rotation. I love the water tension around the head of the bird you froze in time. That alone makes it for me.