Black Winged Stilt - Juvie

[Stu Bowie]

These guys are quite a challenge, as they twist and turn in flight when startled. I was shooting from my car, and they were still very skittish. Taken early morning at a waterworks in Cape Town.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300mm F/2.8 +2X TC = 600mm
1/2000
F/6.3
ISO 640

Manual exposure
Hand held from the car.

[Randy Stout]

Stuart:

Vivid eye, nice legs. Well exposed, nice full up pose.

I could see a bit off the bottom, personal taste.

Cheers

Randy

[Bill Dix]

Wonderful flight capture of a tough bird. Good sharp eye, great gradation of blacks in the wings. I could go either way on the crop: as is or a little off the bottom. I'd love it either way.

[John Robinson]

Looks good to me Stuart. One of my favourite birds.Went all the way to the Camargue for them but didn't succeed !
Grat flight shot and cropping.
John

[Dumay de Boulle]

Lovely image Stuart. Great light ands I love the eye!

[Joe Subolefsky]

I might have tried to darken the mid part of the legs,really like the eye. Are these pretty common in Cape town? headed there in Aug.

[keith mitchell]

Stuart it's got that great beady eye on you, you have done very well getting the detail in the dark wing, fine flight shot.

Keith.

[Stu Bowie]

Are these pretty common in Cape town? headed there in Aug.

Thanks Joe. This was captured at the Strandfontein sewerage works in one of the lesser suburbs of Cape Town. There were a lot of these guys at the beginning of January, which is mid summer, when I visited this location. You will be going there in August which is at the end of their winter, so Im not sure if they are there at that time of the year. This location also has Flamingo's and Pelican's which Im sure are there all year round. Contact me nearer the time, and I will put you onto various locations.

Thanks to everyone else for your feedback.

[Joe Subolefsky]

Thanks Stuart.

[Tiago Caravana]

I like the vivid eye, the gradation of blacks in the wings as Bill said and the wings position.
For me the composition is good as it is.

[Mike Poole]

Great capture Stuart, top pose in superb light, the leg position in particular appeals to me

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Stu, nice flight shoot and control of the Black & Whites, but agree with Randy, perhaps a sliver off the foot?

You certainly have been traveling to some very salubrious places recently, trust this was upwind.

TFS
Steve

[Stu Bowie]

You certainly have been traveling to some very salubrious places recently, trust this was upwind.

Thanks Steve. Believe it or not, the air around his location is as clean as if you were on top of a mountain. Although a sewerage works, its already been processed.

Thanks a stack to everyone else too.

[Steve Kaluski]

Forgive me then if I'm hesitant when you tell me you have a superb location, great bird life & light with very little human presence.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Stu - Beautiful and elegant flight shot. Love the eye and the long lines of the outstretched legs. On the crop I think the suggestion of a little off the bottom is a nice alternative, giving you a bit more pano for the elongated pose.

Steve, at least Stu's not saying it's a great place for a picnic too.

TFS,
Rachel

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Hey Stu, excellent exposure and sharpness. Such beautiful birds these. Love that red eye and those long legs. I'd crop a bit tighter if IQ can withstand it.

[Steve Canuel]

Besides the detail and pleasing light, the thing that stands out to me is this bird's posture. What form!

[arash_hazeghi]

Excellent Stu, love the wing position and BG, the Juvi feathers are really nice

[David Salem]

Great job Stuart! Love the pose and the good look at the eye and dangling legs. Your detail and exposure look awesome and I like the darker water color. Very well captured Stu.

[Binu John]

Excellent IF shot, Stu! Perfect pose and exposure. The dark blue color of the water in the BG makes the subject stands out.Very well done!