The Outcast

[Bob Pelkey]

1DM4, 600mm, f/4, ISO 800, 1/5000, tripod used and panning.

On my last visit to Harns Marsh Preserve, in the month of November 2013, I was primarily
tuned into the overflight of raptors and scavengers. I was distracted by the contentious
behavior between Common Moorhen and American Coot. Initially I thought a dominant
moorhen was going after any coot that invaded its space. It became apparent, however,
after further observation that a lone coot was being harassed primarily by at least one
moorhen and at least one coot. I thus consider the bird chased as an outcast or possibly
a yet to be accepted bird in the group of about ten birds in total. My conclusion has been
influenced in part with Chris Baker advising me that he typically observes coots chasing
moorhens on the other side of the pond.

This image is moderately cropped. A very slight counter-clockwise rotation was made.
The image was sharpened with one round of Smart Sharpen and brightened overall +6.
Otherwise I primarily removed evidence of a significant dust spot, a couple of water droplets,
and cleaned up some distractions in the uppermost portion of the frame. A little NR also.

Regards,

Bob Pelkey

http://www.swfloridabirder.blogspot.com

[Henry Domke]

Thanks for describing the behavior. I wish there was more of that on the Avian posts.

On my laptop I can't tell for sure, but the Coot's bill and eye don't appear to be tack sharp. Since it is the foreground animal I think it would look better if it were sharper.
If you had shot this at f/8 instead of f/4 I think more of the Coot's face would have been in focus. What do you think about using a slightly lower shutter speed and a higher ISO.

[Bob Pelkey]

Thanks for your comment, Henry, and to all that contribute here.

I extremely rarely change the f-stop setting unless I know I am going to be with a subject for an extended period. This occurs very infrequently with the action in the area I live and the venues I visit extraordinary. The habitat typically has extreme light and dark backgrounds and swift action. I frequently adjust the exposure bias and ISO on the fly for these reasons with shutter speed a great concern. I am aware of wildlife photographers that shoot at a mid range f-stop routinely and successfully with the light always in their favor with their presentations.

Tack sharp images are occasionally captured using the rear focus technique and the settings I choose semi-manually. Sometimes I am successful with them. It's been great fun making the observations, certainly moreso than processing the images.

Regards,

Bob

http://swfloridabirder.blogspot.com

Thanks for describing the behavior. I wish there was more of that on the Avian posts.

On my laptop I can't tell for sure, but the Coot's bill and eye don't appear to be tack sharp. Since it is the foreground animal I think it would look better if it were sharper.
If you had shot this at f/8 instead of f/4 I think more of the Coot's face would have been in focus. What do you think about using a slightly lower shutter speed and a higher ISO.

[arash_hazeghi]

the action is super but the IQ is quite lacking. Both birds are tiny in the frame, the coot doesn't show much detail and the moorhen is totally OOF. These kind of shots are very difficult and more often than not, they are a miss. I hope you capture one in better conditions.

TFS

[Holger Leyrer]

i know how difficult it is to capture a runing coot. I try it in every summer
I hope, how Arash says, you capture one in better conditions and we can see it here

[Arthur Morris]

I think that it is a pretty neat image. I'd go a bit darker with the midtones and the highlights. I like the big splash, the underwing detail, and the reflection.

[Jim Crosswell]

I would crop it up from the bottom to just under the grasses to put the focus more on the action but that is personal taste. I like the splash. Nice image Bob.