Winter's End

[Randy Stout]

I was able to get out to our local bird sanctuary last weekend before the ice was gone, so got to use nature's reflector to fill the undersides of the flying birds. This is always one of my favorite lighting conditions. It was very bright, but the fill reduced the dynamic range enough that it was workable.

D4 500mm AFS ISO 800 f/7.1 1/3200.

Post: slight crop to level, and added a sliver of room on left. Softened the far shoreline a bit.

Advice and comments always appreciated.

Cheers

Randy

[Karl Egressy]

Nice flight position with the beak open, Randy. I also like the snowy condition for shooting, but not crazy about the wind and cold. I still go out.

[gail bisson]

Very nice incoming flight shot and love the open beak.
I agree 100% about snow being a wonderful reflector.
Nice details in the whites. Good to get the catchlight.
I am on the fence about the grey strip at the top but the more I look at it the more I like it.
Gail

[Randy Stout]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Gail - I did ponder the gray strip, and actually softened it just a bit. I thought it provided some natural framing for the white image, and seemed to help separate the snow from a white background when viewed on my monitor.

Cheers

Randy

[Doug Brown]

Like the pose, open bill, and rim of shadows on the bird. I don't mind the gray strip up top but I'd lighten it even more.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the flight angle, open beak, snow setting and composition. People still ice fishing on Lake St. Clair at my house.

[D. Robert Franz]

Image was done very well. Good use of the lighting conditions you had...