African Black Oystercatcher

[Chris van Rooyen]

I created this image last year December on a beach near Cape Town. The pair of oystercatchers had recently bred and were feeding their single chick. They were very habituated to people and dogs on the beach, so they allowed a close approach. I was fortunate to have a lovely sunny morning that day with an azure blue sea, because the rest of my time there it was overcast. I cloned out a piece of OOF rock in the right-hand corner. About 30% crop. Processed with LR, PS and Neat Image. Thanks for looking.

Camera Model: NIKON D5
Date/Time: 2018:12:19 06:31:13
Shutter speed: 1/3200 sec
Aperture: 6.3
Exposure mode: Manual
Exposure compensation: +1/3
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 900
Focal length: 500mm

[Isaac Grant]

So nice Chris. I love this. The spread wings, the perfect head turn, the prey in the back, the light, the beautiful water color. All top notch. Just great. I was just talking to someone about after having switched to Nikon that I need to redo many species that I already have. Now I have an image to strive for when out shooting American Oystercatcher. Being super critical, that rear wing being heavily shadowed does bug me some but the rest is so strong.

[David Roach]

I don't know what I like more, the beautiful subject going about parental duties or that incredibly painterly BG(would stand on it's own as art). Congrats! TFS

[dankearl]

Background is superb... Great head angle.

[William Dickson]

Fabulous looking frame Chris....Detail, exposure, HA, flight pose all very nice. Love the BG colours.

Will

[Dorian Anderson]

Yeah, this is a winner! Love everything about it: water, color, flight, feet, detail, and especially the eye contact!

[Ivan Sjogren]

Very, very nice Chris! Love the colors of that background. Nice layering of the waves as well. Beautiful light, deatils and comp. The slight head angle and prey makes this a real winner, congrats!

[annmpacheco]

Pretty indeed Chris, colors, sharpness, HA, and BG. I'm wondering if the underside of the toes might be too bright... Excellent capture.

[John Mack]

Very nice. The look back pose is great. Love that blue/green two toned background. Nice detail on the bird as well.

[arash_hazeghi]

Excellent frame Chris, love the look back and dynamic pose, exposure, details and the small food item, details look great in both blacks and whites!

you nailed it

TFS

[Jonathan Ashton]

That is a super image, great timing background and details, couldn't really ask for better.

[greg cowle]

Great capture, the color of the background sets the bird of so well.

[Tim Foltz]

Chris, super colors on this one, nice details and action. Love the yellow eye ring.

-Tim