The Color of Spoonbills

[Judd Patterson]

Spoonbill, Eco Pond in Everglades National Park
Canon 40D, 500mm f/4 and 1.4x TC
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 400
4/20/2008 around dawn

I had the pleasure of photographing a few spoonbills in the Everglades back in April. I would settle into a good location, battle the mosquitoes (major battle around dawn), and wait for the flock to work its way nearby. This image was created when the flock approached quite close and walked by. For just a second their reflections turned the water almost entirely pink! I was initially tempted to fill in a couple of the gaps with pink, but ended up feeling that the original image worked fine for me.

[Steve Canuel]

Beautiful colors and great eye contact. Neat image.
Steve

[Fabs Forns]

Love that glowing pick water, Judd! I'd remove whatever it is shooting out of his head.

[Harold Davis]

fantastic judd!!! never seen water that color and it really makes the photo!!!

[Doug Brown]

Lovely photo Judd. Agree with Fabs about the stuff coming out of the bird's head. Like the way the sun is illuminating just the eye.

[Dieter Schaefer]

Love the colors, agree on removing what sticks out behind the head.

[Judd Patterson]

The stuff sticking out of its head are the legs of the spoonbills casting the pink reflections. I'll try to tone them down. Thanks!

[Steve Maxson]

This is very cool, Judd. The water color puts this one way over the top.

[Juan Aragonés]

Excelent image Judd. I have seen here a lot of fantastic images of spoonies but this one is very different and had a very interesting artistic touch. Good eye to see this image Judd. Would love to see the complete reflection of the bird in the water but this image is very strong in the way you posted and I do not worry abouth the vertical reflections of the legs over the head. Would love to have this one hanging on one of my home walls ;)

[Anita Rakestraw]

Terrific find, Judd, it's beautiful!!

[Gus Cobos]

Nicely done, like the details and colors...congrats...:cool: