Semipalmated sandpiper in flight

[gail bisson]

Canon 1D MKiV
f 500mm and 1.4X
SS 1/1250
Aperture 8.0
ISO 400
Handheld, cropped by ~ 30% (70% FF)
Cloned a birds head out of RLC. The BG is ocean and crashing wave.
Comments and critiques always appreciated and learned from with thanks,
Gail

[Arthur Morris]

Does not get much better than this. Love the image design, the light, the raised wings, the SH, and the blur in the far wing. Twist my arm and I'd wish that the near wing were fully raised but still a spectacular image.

[Shawn Zierman]

A really technically difficult image captured very, very well.
I really like that you did not crop the heck out of this, and have so much space for the
semipalm to fly in. The background gradient is a sweet doozy.
There is a dust sensor spot that the bird's tip of the forewing is pointing at up in the
whiter section of the background....

[Randy Stout]

Gail:

Agree with Artie and Shawn. Excellent image, like the angle in frame, colors, exposure.

Cheers

Randy

[David Salem]

Gail,
This is an awesome capture. Great Exposure, HA, wing position and details. Pretty darn good for 1/1250th and f8. I really like the light glistening on the legs allot. Like the comp also and the IQ is good enough to handle a little more cropping if you wanted.
Great Work!!

David

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent image Gail. I like the flight angle, wing position, IQ and BG. I would take a little off the top but still a beauty as presented.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot.
I really like the flight pose, very nice light, and great background.
Very well done.

[Karl Egressy]

Great job catching one in flight, Gail. Great image.
Hand held with 1.4x on; simply amazing.

[Daniel Cadieux]

A very successful peep flight image Gail! Great wing positions, well exposed, and sharp.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gail, you have captured a great inflight pose with the raised wings, and love how the sandpiper pops from the two toned surf BG.

Is that mud on the feet?

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Awesome Gail, these birds are s fast. I like the birds pose and wing position. I like the BG colors as well. Great sharpness for a hand holding the lens well done.

[Melissa Groo]

Excellent flight capture of this little sandpiper, Gail, congrats! I have just been photographing birds down in SC and I know how tough it is to get one little shorebird in flight. They're either too fast, or surrounded by others that are mostly out of focus, etc. Great work.

[Marina Scarr]

Great photo of a difficult to capture bird in flight, especially hand held with the big rig. I guess I need to return to the gym.

[Lorant Voros]

Yes, this is an awesome shot of this little bird in flight. Exposure is spot on and I like that is heading towards you. Very well done.

[nrohrbacker]

Great job on this little speedie. I like the blur as well on the far wing

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

These birds are fast and you have made a great job capturing this one! I like the light and pose but wish it was higher in the frame, if it was mine :)

[arash_hazeghi]

it's a tough bird to get in flight and you did very well. I like the light too and a nice BG. I would have chosen a wider aperture and higher ISO to freeze the wings a bit more and get sharp top surface details while maintaining some motion blur in the wing tips. crop-wise would go a bit tighter

very nice work!

[Bill Dix]

Well done, Gail. What a tough little birdie to capture in flight. All is said above. You must have been really pleased when you knew you had nailed this one. Congrats.

[Satish Ranadive]

Gail:
Very very sweet image.I like the way bird pops up against beautiful blues.Love the wing position,lights,sharpness and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[Frank Schauf]

Very nice flight pose and bg colours, Gail.

[Chris Martinez]

At the rate I'm going I'll never be able to frame a little shorebird on the wing.
I like it as presented.
Super well done!!!