Shouting out the news - 10,000th post - Common Loon

[Randy Stout]

Well, actually , this male loon is yodeling at another loon flying over his territory, but I couldn't resist using his action for this milestone.

D4 600mm at f/5. 1/1250s ISO 800 Pedestal mounted in the bottom of my little boat, "Loonie Too" Touch of fill flash

Post: Full frame selective sharpening, cleaned up a few spots in the water

In retrospect, should have bumped up the ISO for more DOF, but really don't like noise. Thought the action carried the day

Advice and comments appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

[Doug Brown]

What an awesome frame to commemorate your 10,000th post Randy! Love everything about this one; all the more impressive that it's full frame. The falloff in DOF doesn't bother me in the least, and at such close range it's unlikely that you could have brought everything into focus.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks Doug;

Just wish the tip of the bill was a bit better, not worried about the neck.

Cheers

Randy

[Marina Scarr]

This is a killer image, Randy, to bring in the 10,000's and thank you so much for all of your hard work and dedication to BPN. The tip of the bill not being tack sharp doesn't bother me in the least. The loon's eye and open bill are so riveting that you don't even notice. Like the water drag under the bill and all the droplets on the loon. Your BG is over the top!!!

[vishaljadhav]

Superb image chosen for 10000
lovely pose and the action makes it for me, i like the open mouth and the eye is superb
the water colour makes it more enhanced
Superb image

[dankearl]

Looks like a Sea Monster!
Fitting post for the 10,000th and thanks for all the time
you put in here and the advice you give.
The DOF is fine, all I am drawn to is the great Eye.

[Joe Murphy]

Stunning close-up Randy, great POV & focus on the eye.

[Karl Egressy]

A big congratulations, Randy on your 10,000. Thanks for all your comments and beautiful images. You chose a wonderful portrait to celebrate.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Whoa Randy,

A great post for your 10,000th! Congrats, but more importantly, Thank You! Your critiques are always well thought out and have plenty of substance, and I know it's greatly appreciated from everyone around here.

Looking forward to your 100,000th post :)

Miguel

[Gary Esman]

Fantastic shot! The eye is amazing. Of those 10,000 posts, oh so many were used to help out others, encourage, and gracefully nudge. Thanks for all your time and effort on this great forum. Gary.

[Lyle Gruby]

Congrats Randy, I'm too mesmerized by the eye and feather detail to notice the DOF falloff on the bill. I can't tell you how much you've helped me grow in the short time I've been posting here. Thank you.

[Satish Ranadive]

Extremely beautiful action portrait to commemorate your 10,000th post Heartiest Congratulation Randy Sir.
Love the pose, superb details ,nice water droplets and lovely composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[Troy Lim]

Stunning image here. I am ok with the DOF. It gives it different feel. :)

[MohsenVahedipour]

Really wonderful shot for this milestone. Excellent action, IQ, lovely green BG & shooting angle.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Randy you have posted some superb loon shots and this is yet another, love the timing and the suspended water droplet is really eye catching. The DOF could perhaps be a little greater but really this looks excellent to me.

[Shawn Zierman]

Congrats on 10,000, and imo, that's really a bigger accomplishment than face value would suggest when one considers the length and quality of your posts. I'm reacting to the image in a similar way to Dank., maybe not sea monster, but like angry eel with a beak or something like that! You cover this subject so deeply from so many angles....impressive. The quality of the image is top notch.

[Girish Prahalad]

superb image to celebrate a milestone! great timing to freeze the open beak & details are great.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments, much appreciated.

BPN has been a wonderful experience for me, and has raised my level of photography significantly (I would like to think )

It works the best when the community works together to support and educate each other!

Cheers

Randy

[Melissa Groo]

Congrats Randy, quite an accomplishment, and what a stunner of an image to mark it. I dig the horizon line in the eye. Super detail, and action captured.
Thanks for all you do on this site, your advice and support for BPN photographers is much appreciated.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Randy, huge congrats on your 10000th post, and your 'favourite' subject justs pops out the frame. Exquisite detail and exposure on the head, and love the drooling water from the bill.

Here's to another 10000.

[Frank Schauf]

Fantastic. Wonderful pose, colors and background.

[nick clayton]

I love the impact of the open billed pose and sharp close-up detail Randy.

[Robert Holguin]

Wow!!!! What an image...
Excellent moment captured.
Details are superb, excellent low angle, and terrific comp.
Very well done.

[David Salem]

What an awesome and unique shot you have here. It all came together very well. Love the watercolor and the look inside the mouth. Very sharp and well exposed also.
Great shot to celebrate your 10,000th post.
Congratulations and thanks for your help and comments.
David

[gail bisson]

I am late to the party but a big congrats on 10,000 posts and thank you so much for all your helpful and detailed critiques. I really appreciate it.
This is a pretty cool and different shot.
IQ is great and love all the details in the open mouth. The first thing I noticed though was the horizon in the eye. Pretty neat.
Gail

[christopher galeski]

its all been said,congrats on your 10,000 posts,love the eye on thie magic image,well done.

[Bill Jobes]

A perfect image for your 10K milestone. Looking forward to seeing what you select for 20K !

[arash_hazeghi]

This is excellent Randy! I really like the dynamic pose

[mohammad reza shahab]

This fantastic photo Randy!