Semi-palmated Sandpiper

[Isaac Grant]

I have so many shots of this common shorebird that when I saw it in with a flock of Sanderling that I mostly ignored it. At one point a dog walker came close and most of the birds moved on except this guy. It got a nice stretch in and then went about its business. As usual I set up on the cleanest part of the beach and waited for the birds to come to me. I was lucky when a large flock came and rested very close to me. Guess they liked the clean beach as well . The sun had gone behind the clouds for only a few moments when I took this picture. I think it was perfect light for a shot like this. Taken 6/1 at Breezy Point in Queens, New York.

Canon 1DX and Canon 500 f4 ii + 1.4x iii. ISO 1600, F8, SS 1/1600. Tripod mounted while lying in the sand.

Processed with DPP 4.6 and PS.

[John Mack]

Love the up wing position and the composition, nice background as well.

[John Whaley]

Unexpected but welcome pose. I like the light and DOF here. Well done.

[Alex Becker]

Love the soft diffused light and the wings up pose. DOF is perfect and the beach is clean. Next time I photograph shorebirds I'm going to try your approach instead of just chasing them around the shore the whole time. Browns and red tones look very nice. TFS

[gail bisson]

This is lovely. Great wing stretch and IQ is topnotch.
Comp is highly subjective and personal and I like your comp but would prefer a version with a bit off the bottom.
I too, am a lie down and wait for the birds to come to me!
Gail

[Isaac Grant]

Gail I did consider that and think you are right. I was going to take a little off the bottom and add it to the top but then just didn't know. This was a cropped to vertical and I didn't want to crop anymore so would have needed to add to the top. Thanks.

Alex when photographing shorebirds I think it is always best to lay still and let the birds come to you. They will often times come so close that they are too close to focus on. Once they are used to your presence and maybe are a little out of reach then I have had success slowly crawling on my belly towards them. Do it in stages and most times the birds pay me no mind.

Here is it with a little taken off the bottom and added to the top.

[arash_hazeghi]

love the stretched wings and the low angle Issac, just wish the right wing was stretched a tad higher. good exposure and details TFS

[annmpacheco]

Super repost Isaac, a beautiful stretch you waited for and caught. exposure perfecto .

[Isaac Grant]

Arash please clarify something for me. Are you saying the birds right wing meaning the one on the left in this shot, or the birds left wing which is the one on the right in this shot?