Pied-billed Grebe calling

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created at the Gilbert Water Ranch Riparian Preserve in Phoenix, Arizona on the morning of March 9, 2018. I used the Induro GIT 304L/Mongoose M3.6-mounted Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens, the Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III, and the Nikon D850. ISO 800. Matrix metering +2/3 stop as framed: 1/160 sec. at f6.3 in Manual mode. Cloudy WB at 7:26am on a cloudy bright morning. One AF point above and one to the left of the center AF point/d-9 Shutter Button AF. The selected AF point right on the base of the bird’s open bill, right on the same plane as the bird’s eye. AF Focus peaking Fine-tune +4.

To learn more about the creation of this image and my Phoenix trip, and how I just about killed myself in my own home, click here.
As for the image, don't be shy. All comments are welcome.

with love, artie

[gail bisson]

Nice calling pose.
I find the water very bright and would tone it down a bit (especially the area on the right).
If mine, I would tidy up the white blob along left edge.
Sorry to hear about your accident. Best of luck getting better!
Gail

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hey Artie, nice calling pose. I go back and forth regarding the brightness of the image. I like the image and wonder if you brightened up what was a dark image from the overcast conditions. As Gail wrote, sorry about your fall, hoping you are back in the game soon.

[Isaac Grant]

Calling pose is very nice. Colors as well. I think the brightness of the water looks perfect. Love the mouth open on the grebe. I have never heard one of these guys call. Why did you choose such a low shutter speed?

So sorry about your fall. I read about it on the blog. Sounds like you dodged a bullet and will hopefully be back out shooting soon. Being that both of my boys are only 12 and 9 I am still really aware of every step that I take in the house!

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the image but it looks a little bright in general to me especially at this size.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks all. I am with Isaac on the brightness. Gail, I will lost the white smudge on the left frame edge. I did not go to a faster shutter speed as I greatly prefer ISO 800 to ISO 1600. And the bird was just floating around :)

with love, artie

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks All, I'm with Isaac; the brightness looks just fine to me. Gail, I will re-visit the light smudge on the left frame-edge. I did not go for a higher shutter speed as I much prefer ISO 800 to ISO 1600 with any camera body ... Plus, two of these were just floating around in front of me :)

with love, artie