Beep beep! Roadrunner portrait

[gail bisson]

The roadrunner was one of my reasons to go to Texas. This bird was a lifer for me.
These guys are as cute in real life as in the cartoon! Look at those eyelashes!
We were in a sunken blind at eye level with the pond. At Santa Clara Ranch with Hector Astorga.
Canon 1 DX
600mm
ISO 800 F8 SS 1/2500
PP-Crop to !75% FF LR sliders and levels and DE/TC at 13%. Nothing added or cloned.
Comments and critiques always appreciated and learned from with thanks,
Gail

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

Very Nice Image. I think if the Head is slightly turned towards us then it would have been a better image.

I like the reflection and the Background colors.

Thanks for sharing.

[Isaac Grant]

I love everything about this Gail except the head angle. The colors, drinking, water and perfect shooting angle are all spot on.

[Daniel Cadieux]

A very intimate view of the drinking behaviour. I love the film of water pulled by the bill, very cool! I can forgive the head angle here as this is quite a sweet image.

[annmpacheco]

Love it Gail, it would not have been "smart or natural" for the RR to slightly look our way and become vulnerable. Rather, he positioned himself nicely to look straight ahead at the predators, such as that rattlesnake! Lovely waterfall/spill, colors, exposure, and composition. Road runners are always so entertaining and he did not disappoint. Wonderful image and lifer.

[David Policansky]

Congratulations on your lifer and fine portrait, Gail. Living half the year in New Mexico it's hard for me to imagine a RR being a lifer but of course it could be for someone from northeastern N America. Most people don't know about the bright colors around their heads, which you captured nicely. When the crest is raised the bird is even more spectacular, but it would never be raised while the bird is drinking like this. I find them tough to photograph because they are so fast and usually spooky. Well done.

[Tim Foltz]

Gail, I knew where this was from as soon as I saw the thumbnail, glad you got your lifer.
Nice colors and details.

-Tim

[Glenn Pure]

Lot's to like here Gail - the amazing closeness and presence of the bird, great low POV and stunning background. The film of water as the bird lifts its bill is really nice and a great lifter. At that range, a touch more DOF might have been nice but no big deal. If mine, I'd back off the contrast a little as I think it would make a great shot even better.

[Bill Dix]

Wonderful capture, Gail. This seems so natural that I didn't even think about the HA, which is no problem for me at all. Great intimate look, details and colors, water dripping off the bill: All make for a great shot. This was also on my wish list when we visited several Texas ranches, but they refused to cooperate, so I'll have to go back. Don't think I could match this one, though.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gail, brilliant perspective here, and I can still hear your shutter going off as this fellow dropped his head to drink. Love the film of water from the beak, and not a bad reflection either. You nailed the sharpness and detail here, and I do like the red sand of the BG. Well captured.