Peep Dispute

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on Thursday morning past while I was with private client and multiple IPT veteran Elizabeth MacSwann. I sat behind my Induro GIT 304L/Mongoose M3.6-mountedCanon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 2X III, and the fast, rugged Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with 64GB Card and Reader. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop: 1/400 sec. at f/9 in Manual mode. Cloudy WB.

Lower center Zone/Shutter Button AF as originally framed was active at the moment of exposure; the five active AF points were (incorrectly, due to operator error) on the bird’s neck. As sharpest focus was on the neck, past the plane of the eye, I replaced the eye and a few head feathers using source material from a sharp frame in the series. Click on the image to see a larger version.

LensAlign/FocusTune micro-adjustment = +5.

Semipalmated Sandpiper dispute (both in fresh juvenal plumage).

Don't be shy; all comments are welcome.

What I would really like to know if do you think that the wing of the second bird (that is actually running away from the attacking bird) is a huge distraction or that it completes the story. Or somewhere in between. You can learn a bit more in the The Next Frame (or Not?)... blog post http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2016/...omment-1737424http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2016/...omment-1737424

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[Daniel Cadieux]

The pose is rather wicked, very cool. Reminiscent of a lawn dart (remember those? They are banned here in Canada ). Low angle and resulting BG are top notch. As for your question, yes, I do think that oof wing is unfortunate. I'd keep it anyhow as the pose is one-of-a-kind.

[Mike Poole]

A difficult one to assess Artie, there are only so many picture perfect shots you can take in a career before you have to put the arty streak into gear.

For me, the wing is too distracting and would probably be a deleted frame, but once the accompanying explanation is give, I found I'd learned a new behavioural aspect that I didn't know about before.

Maybe it needs to be part of a sequence, or at least part of a written article rather than a stand alone shot.

Mike

[annmpacheco]

Hi Artie, I appreciate this frame for its behavioral merit, reminds me of a fencing match, or a sumo wrestler bowing before the opponet jumped the gun... Your PS skills are remarkable as the detail on the head is impeccable, well done again, i also like the fanned feathers throughout.
cheers, Ann

[Jonathan Ashton]

For me the intruding wing of the second bird ruins the shot, most unfortunate because the pose of the main subject really makes it very interesting.

[gail bisson]

Hi Artie,
To answer your question, I think the wing is a huge distraction.
Too bad because the pose of the ppep is really god and you have a great POV,
Gail

[Gabriela Plesea]

I am loving it.

It tells the story. In just one frame.

A keeper IMO

Warmest regards,