Non-Cuteness Alert

[Arthur Morris]

Was at the Lakeland rookery on the Hooptie Deux with James Shadle and friend Doug Holstein from NC yesterday afternnoon. There were lots of small White Ibis chicks in the nests and the nests were much more open than last year. When we first got there we had lovely cloud cover that did not last long enough. With all the whitewash total shade or soft light is imperative.

Canon 600mm f/4 L IS lens on Wimberley head with EOS-1D MIII. (IS is a big help when photographing from a watercraft, even one as stable at the Hooptie Deux.)

ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stop" 1/160 sec. at f/4. Fill flash at -2 stops.

QMasked out a very few small branches, most that overlapped the birds lower back and wing.

How many birds in the nest? (and how did you know)?

Don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[Arthur Morris]

Here is a j-peg representative of the ORIG converted RAW file so that folks can see how amazing Robert O'Toole's Quick Masking techniques are...

[Rod Wiley]

I'd guess 2. Is that pin feathers under the foot of the chick and maybe a knee at its back?

[Arthur Morris]

I'd guess 2. Is that pin feathers under the foot of the chick and maybe a knee at its back?

Two is correct... Not sure if the dark stuff by the foot is pin feathers or the upper leg joint of the chick's other leg... Do not see the knee. And I thought that the two little hooks on the chick's back were the claws/toes of the sibling but where are the toenails? (Possibly in the feathers...)

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Peter, Thanks for the repost. I actually like the curved branch on the far left as it serves as a sort of frame. And I like the long look for this one (not that I am wedded to 3X2). I had some frames without it, but chose the one with it to work on. As for the 2nd branch, I try to stay away from the branches that end mysteriously and conveniently right behind another branch.

[Chris Dodds]

Hey Artie,

Looks like the quick-mask tech. worked well here. Gotta get out on that boat!

Hope all is well.

Chris

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Chris, Great to see you here. And yes, QMs are, as anyone can see, amazing...

[Chris Dodds]

Thanks for the welcome, Artie.

It's a great place, Birdphotographers.net - like the name too.