Sunset stroll...

[David Roach]

EOS R EF400 DO I 1.4xtc II 1/1300 f8 ISO 500

Back in May, just as the sun was touching the horizon at peak low tide, just a few more minutes of the golden hour to go, I spot a tidal pool full of waders down the beach (reddish, tricolored, snowy among them). As I begin to walk in that direction, everyone flies except one. This beauty gave me some wide shots, so I approached closer. Got right to the rim of the pool and sat down with the now orange ball just over my right shoulder and still not noticed by this intense hunter. I went vertical and raised the camera, as this beauty started from the back of the pool on my right (light and shadows if I hit the trigger). Started trotting on a diagonal toward me and finally noticed I was there. This is the frame from a short burst where the turn away began. The slight turn brought fully lit pose just before flight shots with no head. Regardless of the image itself, moments like this are truly priceless...

[Ivan Sjogren]

I think you did well to represent that magical sunset session by the tidal pool with this image. The light is stunning!
The bird itself is beautifully sunlit and the exposure looks spot on. I see plenty of details and I think the vertical comp works alright.
I do wish for a lower shooting angle here, almost always yelds a better reslut and would have removed that line of mud near the head which is quite distracting now. I might also add a few points of black in selective color and adress the slightly yellowish whites.

[gail bisson]

This looks like it was taken at Bunche.
I wish you had been lower to get that mud BG out of the way.
Nice striding pose.
I would take a sliver off the bottom of the frame.
Gail

[dankearl]

Would have gone lower and I think although it might level, it does not look like it...
Nice pose.

[arash_hazeghi]

yes to the lower angle and a bit tight on the left, sweet light and good details

TFS

[Arthur Morris]

So where was it taken?

with love, a

[David Roach]

Gail already nailed it. Bunche Beach Ft Myers. Just south of the bridge to Sanibel on the mainland. Wonderful mudflats (got to get low tide during the usual golden hours) and at least one permanent beauty (the reddish egret white morph posted earlier). Thanks to all for comments/critiques. Always helpful to my improvement...
Peace,
David

So where was it taken?

with love, a

[Daniel Cadieux]

I agree with the suggestions. I love the eye, and the water lifting around the front foot.

[John Mack]

Agree with the other comments here. That light was sure nice.