Common Loon Portrait

[Doug Brown]

I just completed a thoroughly enjoyable workshop in Kamloops, BC with Alan Murphy and Greg Downing. Common Loons were the main attraction, but there were a ton of other birds up there that we also photographed. Here's a head shot of a Common Loon that just emerged from the water. I love how the water droplets line up on the bird's head.

Nikon D850, 600mm + 1.4x, f/8, 1/500, ISO 640, manual exposure, hand held

[William Dickson]

Beautiful. What great detail, especially about the eye. I also love the water droplets.

Will

[John Mack]

Talk about detail. Love those water drops. I don't know what that line is right below the bill.

[Glenn Pure]

Really eye-catching shot, Doug. I too like the lines of droplets. Love that eye and reflection in it too. Not sure how much of a crop this is but I'm guessing not much as the bird must have been super close to have the bill tip starting to soften at f8. Pretty amazing you were able to get this as I suspect you both got a bit of a fright when the bird popped up out of nowhere?

[Isaac Grant]

Just fantastic detail here Doug. I don't think you could have better image quality. I would smooth out that dark line that is just below the beak.

[Doug Brown]

It's just a ripple in the water John. The D850 can produce a tremendous amount of detail when you nail focus!

[Doug Brown]

Thanks Glenn! The loons were very tolerant of our pontoon boat; they would come as close as a few feet from us.

[Doug Brown]

Glad you like it Isaac. I'll try a version with the dark line removed.