Spoonbill splash

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

One of only two spoonbills in Australia, the Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes) that I photographed by quietly sitting beside a roadside pond. It seems to have just missed a small fish.

If you are interested in reading about what happened, I do have two blog posts that I wrote back then here and here of some of my adventures beside this little country road close to home.

Canon EOS 30D
300/4L IS USM + 1.4x
Av mode, evaluative metering
+1EC, ISO640, f/5.6, 1/2000th
hand held, slight crop due to small rotation.
It was very foggy, so I bumped up the contrast to compensate.

[gail bisson]

Thanks for the links Akos. I also ended up reading this year's blog posts. I enjoyed reading them very much. You have some awesome shots.
Lovely image as always. I am glad you explained about the fog because I thought it needed a boost in contrast when I first viewed it.
Beautiful feather detail and love the open bill and waterdrops.
I think this needs a bit of CW rotation.
Gail

[Geoff Newhouse]

A very nice shot, good moody look with the white bird and almost dark background. Bill movement and droplets add some dynamism to the image. I agree with a bit of rotation but to me it looks like it needs CCW rotation.

TFS
Geoff

[John Robinson]

Very nice indeed !-reflection too. I would consider emoving the two green stems but no big deal.
Nice one
John

[dankearl]

I would remove the green stems and rotate, the IQ on the bird is very nice....

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hello Akos,

Love the reflection with that zig-zag of the bill, very interesting capture!

The water droplets add a lot to this image...Well exposed and nice POV, sharpness is there; I tend to agree with above comments regarding rotation.

Will certainly have a look at your adventures, thank you for sharing, hope you have a great evening:)

[Lorant Voros]

I agree with Gail...you have some awesome shots.
Very nice IQ, great PP work to compensate the fog. I also feel it needs a little rotation. And again...the old gear worked great in good hands. TFS.

[Bill Dix]

Good action shot, with the drops adding interest. Nice detail, and the bird stands out well against the dark bg. Judging from the reflections, I'm not so sure about rotation. If anything, just the tiniest bit of CCW?

[William Dickson]

Fab looking frame Amos. The bird looks good with details perfect. And the birds actions making the ripples to show a very cool reflection

Will

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thank you for the feedback. Now I am confused about the rotation. CW or CCW, lucky there is no third option. I think probably a slight CCW will do it. Will try.
Thanks again.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image. Very nice pose with open beak. I like the dark backdrop.

Regards,
Satish.

[adrian dancy]

Excellent work all round here Akos. I would just tone down the vegetation in front of the bird's bill. The IQ looks good and the bird's eye really brings this to life. Nice work.