Greater Yellowlegs

[Jim Crosswell]

I took the image this week near my house. I showed my wife this image on the camera viewfinder and she asked what was the name of the bird. I told her and she replied "what did they run out of names" which I found funny and true. Hope you enjoy the image.

Nikon D500
Sigma 150-600 @450mm
f7.1
ISO 1600
1/3200s
Tripod

[Bill Dix]

Hi Jim. Good to hear from you. I've found Yellowlegs, both lesser and greater, to be nearly impossible to capture in flight - at least for me. This is very nice, with perfect downwing pose and good flight angle. Also a pleasing background. I like your wife's comment.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hey Jim, looks good to me, don't know how you could improve the image. Thank you for sharing.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Lol at your wife's comment. Nice to see a post from you Jim, I've always enjoyed your images!

Not an easy frame, I think you pulled it off nicely. I like the faint water BG. Just a wee bit low in the frame for me, but kudos on this beautiful shorebird in flight image.

[David Roach]

Perfect pose, wonderful light, details and killer BG. I rejoined this forum November 2018, back from a hiatus when my shutters both wore out (2009) and I was too busy till I retired. I remember your images from way back then, so this one is no surprise. TFS

[dankearl]

Great pose, they always fly away from me, so always nice to get a flight shot of one.
I would sharpen this a touch more.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Super shot wonderful pose, colours details look good.

[gail bisson]

Pretty awesome Jim. I do not have a good BIF shot of these guys.
perfect wing position. Nice and sharp.
Your wife is right!
Gail

[John Mack]

Love the downstroke pose here. Nice framing. Detail looks right on.

[Arthur Morris]

Well done with the classic full downstroke wing position. But, it did look a bit flat and a bit too red for me (even after I cleaned my glasses). In Photoshop it showed lots of RED in the wings. I think of this species as more black and white than brown and white ...

with love, artie

ps: repost in the next pane

[Arthur Morris]

For the repost, I toned down the RED SAT (but painted back in the legs), eliminated the scruffy neck feather, and increased the contrast a bit (but added a mask to bring back the rump).

with love, artie

[Jim Crosswell]

Thanks everyone for the kind comments and suggestions. Arthurs thanks for cleaning your glasses and taking the time to do a repost. I don't know how the reds got so saturated.

[Jim Crosswell]

Perfect pose, wonderful light, details and killer BG. I rejoined this forum November 2018, back from a hiatus when my shutters both wore out (2009) and I was too busy till I retired. I remember your images from way back then, so this one is no surprise. TFS

David we meet way back around 2005 in Florida at Paynes Prairie. I think you were enrolling your son at the university in Gainesville. You had a Canon body and the 100-400 lens with your wife at Newnans Lake. I had a Canon point and shot S3IS at the time. You were kind enough to send me an extender for it and mailed it to me Canada. I tried to buy it from you but you refused. I never forgot your kindness. Your images of the burrowing owls at a park in or near Miami back in 2008 were an inspiration for me. I am enjoying your new images as well and just wanted to thank you again.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks everyone for the kind comments and suggestions. Arthurs thanks for cleaning your glasses and taking the time to do a repost. I don't know how the reds got so saturated.

YAW, Jim. There was just a small red cast that bugged me since I have been loving shorebirds for about 50 years now. I upped the RED SAT to see the color cast ...

with love, a