Dowitchers' Morning Flight

[Bill Dix]

It's tough to get three birds with perfect wing positions and head angles (I have trouble enough with one), and I didn't quite succeed here. But I liked the early light on these Short-billed Dowitchers, and they were kind enough to fly (almost) parallel to the sensor plane. Ding Darling in November.

D7000, 700mm, ISO 1250, 1600s @ f/6.3 manual, gitzo and mongoose

[Arthur Morris]

Good self critique. Like the sharpness, the light, and the wing position of the bird in the middle. Wing position of the bird in the back is not bad. Like its trailing feet. Like the bKGR and the pano approach.

[PhilCook]

Almost perfect Bill......lovely light and water texture, and a trio composition is rather desirable as you suggest.....just to be fastidious I would clone out the slight reflection on the water on the bottom right of the frame

[Bill Dix]

Thanks Artie and Phil. Phil, I actually liked the hint of a reflection. I thought it showed how close to the water they were flying. Personal preference I guess.

[Randy Stout]

Bill:

I can't tell you how many frames I have of groups of birds flying that don't quite work because of the wing positions.

The exposure and colors are nice here, and the pano crop was def the way to go!

Cheers

Randy

[Nick Palmieri]

The colors and light work well. The pano crop works well. I like the reflection. I think you did a nice job on a difficult capture.