Oyster Catcher

[Mike Delgado]

I've been trying to get a decent shot of an Oyster Catcher for a long time. This weekend while on the west coast of Florida photographing I was provided with the opportunity to spend some time with these guys and getting some shots. Not an easy task as they are very skittish and nervous. I must have crawled and drag my camera & tripod a couple of hundred feet thru sand and water to get near these guys. I guess people on the beach taught I was crazy!

I'll start with this guy taking a rest in the sand! More to follow.

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[Mike Delgado]

Camera Settings

Nikon D4
500mm F-4
F-8
1/2500 sec
ISO 400

[Diane Miller]

Wonderful pose, sharpness and detail! Well worth the wet belly.

More!!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Congrats on your first decent images of this species! Worth the belly-crawl for sure. I could see a version with a bit less canvas below, but I like the details, exposure, head angle, blue band at top. F/8 was perfect choice here. I'd try to tone down or eliminate the pale OOF spot behind the bill tip.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the low angle, sharpness, exposure and details. I agree with Daniels crop suggestion. Nice image Mike.