Black Skimmer Skimming

[Melissa Groo]

Canon 1d4
400mm f/5.6
Handheld

ISO 1000
1/1600 sec
f/5.6

Taken along a canal in Chincoteague Refuge, VA this past June near sunset. I was handholding my 500 for a while as I watched them sweep by me, but it got too heavy after a bit, so I switched to my 400mm for this. I just love to watch and photograph skimmers skimming.
Thanks in advance for any comments and critiques.

[Bill Dix]

Sweet! A classic skimmer shot, with lovely light, perfect wing position, and great angle on the Skimmer. If I were to nit-pick I'd love to see just a tiny bit more light on the face; but I guess you can't have it both ways -- the sun angle here lights up the wing very nicely.

[David Salem]

Very nice classic shot. I too like to watch and photograph skimmers and can tell you that this is a nice image. Beautiful evening light and the act of skimming is great with a nice splash and trail behind. Wing position and details are very nice too. Well done..

[Randy Stout]

MELISSA:

Well captured, nice light, glad there is a catchlight.

Perhaps a bit more canvas on the right, and I would consider cleaning up the darker areas by the wings.

Cheers

Randy

[John Cooper]

You certainly nailed this one Melissa with the skimmer caught at the ideal moment - can't fault!

[arash_hazeghi]

nice skimming Melissa, I like the water trail. wish you could extract more detail in the blacks

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Beautifully caught the action Melissa. Well done!

[Satish Ranadive]

Marvelous image.Very nice composition.
Love the lovely light, perfect wing position, angle on the Skimmer and skimming line too.

Regards,
Satish.

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent skimming action, Melissa. Beuty shot.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Nice position here with the perfect tell tail trail Melissa.

[Melissa Groo]

Thanks for the comments and good feedback. Arash, you have a good point, went back in and eked out more detail in the blacks. Randy, removed that stuff by the wing. Here's the rework.

[Mike Lentz]

Perfect pose and nice soft light!

[Randy Stout]

Melissa:

Nice improvement. Could see a sliver more room at top , but looking good.

Randy

[Frank Schauf]

A great dynamic image, congratulations.

[Marina Scarr]

Lovely pose. Seeing what look like maybe dust bunnies on top and right. I'd agree on a sliver more on top if you have it. Love seeing the trail made by the bird's beak.