American Avocet

[David Salem]

Took this in the spring during breeding season. This is a male in breeding plumage. Managed to get pretty close before he got nervous.

Thanks as always for looking and your input. Appreciated.

MKIV---700mm---f6.3---ss1/2000---ISO400---Car as blind w/BLUBB @ 7:30am---Cropped 20%

David

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Super close-up. I would add some space in front, for me it's a little tight as presented.

[John Cooper]

A very pleasent close-up portrait David. Very sharp, good exposure and the crop is about right for this type of presentation.

[Karl Egressy]

Great close up, excellent portrait shot, David.

[Randy Stout]

David:
Sharp and well exposed, and these long billed birds can be a bit of a challenge to crop their portraits. I would be tempted to add just a sliver of canvas on left.

I am seeing some purple splotches in the BG, probably from the downsizing for web.

Cheers

Randy

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Fantastic close-up David, love the excellent detail and blue BG. I would also add silver to the LHS.

[Grace Scalzo]

Nice up close image. I like the tight view, quite a lot of interest in the bill and its shape. It does look slightly crunchy to me and I see a sharpening halo around the bill, I'd back off just a tad.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Beautiful portrait. Love the emerging water drop on the tip of the bill

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nice to get so close! I like the water bead starting to form near the bill tip. Good exposure. I'd add some canvas left and top (not much more needed, but I find it tight as presented), and the sharpening looks a little aggressive to me.

[Satish Ranadive]

David:
Absolutely superb close-up.
Love the way bird pops up on such beautiful backdrop.Rest has been already said.

Regards,
Satish.

[Bill Dix]

A beautiful portrait. Would love to get close to one of these some day. Definitely tight in the frame, but with that long bill it looks just right to me as presented. Ditto re the crunchiness in places.

[Melissa Groo]

Beautiful portrait of one of my favorite birds. Excellent exposure and detail. Another vote for slight back up on sharpness. But otherwise pretty perfect.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi David, great close up, and enough body showing to show the breeding plumage. I agree adding to the left wont hurt, and Im with Grace and Dan regarding toning down the sharpening.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

David - what a beauty you captured!

[arash_hazeghi]

it's an excellent portrait Dave, love the light and pose. I think it's a bit oversharpened as evident by the halos. reducing sharpening by about 40% will fix it.

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments and great suggestions.. Appreciated

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Very nice portrait! agree with Akos that this one could have more room in front.

[Robert Holguin]

Very nice close up shot.
Very nice light, great background, I love the breeding plumage, and nice details.
Agree on crop and it does look over sharpened.
Well done.