Common Snipe.

[keith mitchell]

Nikon D4
Nikon 300mm 2.8
1/1250@f9
iso 1000.


Snipe taken this summer,natural moorland background.
Thanks for taking a look.

[Lorant Voros]

Nice bird; I love the little head turn and the catchlight int he eye. Perch isn't the most beautiful, but very typical. BG is nice and even. TFS.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Lovely shot Keith I never tire of these = gorgeous bird in a natural setting.
Just having a good look at the head, looks like a good shutter speed presumably taken from car or firm support - if so I would suggest a little more sharpening to the head to see if you can tease out a little detail.

[Isaac Grant]

Nice bird and background. Agree that the head is a touch soft. Also would prefer a better perch. I might consider a little counter clockwise rotation to make the perch straight.

[keith mitchell]

Thanks guys,about half the posts on the site that I photograph these birds are like this one so it's pot luck where they land,Isaac have taken your tip re rotation hope this looks better.Jon I get a bit paranoid about sharpness and like to keep my birds as natural looking as possible but I have given the head a few rounds of sharping ,so hope this is an improvement,Taken from my car window.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Love the one legged pose, and head tilt, Keith. Beautiful moorland BG.

Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

[Joseph Przybyla]

Your Snipe in the open kill me, here I only get a fleeting glimpse. I am sure you wish the perch was different as I do with many of my images, but the bird decides and we captured what it gives. Nice moorland background. Thank you for sharing, Keith.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Keith it doesn't look much different to me - still a nice shot though.
(I am assuming you used the eye as the focal point??)

[keith mitchell]

Agree Jon but I did give it about six rounds of USM,I always go for the eye.
Thanks for this,
Keith.

[David Salem]

The "Snipe Master" strikes again :) Besides the perch not being natural, this one looks great. Love the colors and details. Well done master

[keith mitchell]

Thanks David much appreciated.

[William Dickson]

Well done Keith on an excellent image. Love the pose on the bird and the balance within the frame.

Will