Canon 1D Mark IV
500mm +1.4x
Gitzo/Wimberley spread low
1/2000 sec
f/5.6
ISO 800
I took this at Bowdoin Lake, MT in May. This Black-Necked Stilt was defending its territory against another one that had just flown in to its corner of the lake. The rosy patch it gets in breeding condition is pretty evident here. I liked that it was striding and calling out and looking all puffed up and ready for action.
I removed an out of focus American Avocet that was in the background, and some blecchies from the water. Sharpening, NR, and needed to work on the white of the breast a bit as parts of it were looking a bit blown. Wish the back wasn't so in shade, but that was the light angle I had to work with.
Thanks very much in advance for any comments and critiques, they are always so helpful.
Last edited by Melissa Groo; 09-14-2013 at 01:24 PM.
Hi Melissa - Super sharp image and the open beak and pose makes it a winner IMO. Lovely background, nice focus on the eye and good comp. VWD.
TFS
Hennie
Absolutely super Melissa. For me these days it's important to capture more than just a bird doing nothing, and this one is definitely not doing nothing. Super in every way- background, light, colour, composition, sharpness. And did I mention a great low angle!
Very cool action...the pose is pretty wicked! Nice colours, low angle, BG, comp. I'm wondering if you processed something near the back leg as there is some sort of artefact-looking marks on either side of it (and repeated in the reflection). Otherwise all else is fantastic!
With stilts you really need some nice light to get enough detail in both the blacks and whites ... and you had it! On top of the sweet light, you got one heck of a pose, head angle, and catchlight.
Gorgeous capture, Melissa. The clean surroundings and background are lovely, as is the birds striking pose and warm lighting. I checked your website and you have some fantastic images! Very nice work.
I agree with your self critique Melissa.
The pose is wonderful.
This image would have been over the top if this guy had swung his rear a bit more towards the light but this is real life photography!
Gail
Thanks a lot, everyone. I actually think Daniel may have picked up on some work I did around the legs as I was cloning out the avocet (and its reflection). I have not much patience for selecting thin objects, and so probably did the selection imperfectly, therefore creating the appearance of a line in a couple places close to the legs. Your eye is too good!
Josh, I appreciate your kind words on my web site and work.
I think you are being too hard on yourself Melissa. Unless you did exactly the same thing to the leg AND the reflection, and you did it in two different places, then I just don't see this being a processing artifact. If you look closely you can see a darkish area in front of the foot and a halo behind, both of which are in the reflection. If this was done in PP, I would like to know how!
Perhaps it was just an odd streak of sorts at time of capture...the only way to have repeated it exactly the same would have been to flip a copy of the "worked on" leg to make the reflection better below...in any case, like I said previously, I like the image a lot! Keep up the great work Melissa!
One Ticked-Off Stilt
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