Thanks, Joe!

[Arthur Morris]

Anhinga — preening adult female in full breeding plumage

This image was created at Lakeland, FL on 15 FEBRUARY 2019. I used the handheld Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x teleconverter (at 560mm) and the original AF king, the Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Digital Camera. ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1/500 sec. at f/ in Manual mode. AWB at 10:38am on a mostly sunny morning. Center Zone AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and did a fine job of getting the eye sharp. The system used an AF point just to our right of the bird’s eye.

Learn more about the creation of this image (and lots more) in the Preening Bird Head Angle Tips. Deadly Weapon: the Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens. And a7r iv or a9 ii? blog post here.

BPN friend Joe Przybyla found this gorgeous lady bird for me at one of the hotspots detailed in The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide. (Joe is the co-creator of this guide.) Thanks, Joe!


As for the image, don't be shy; all comments are welcome and appreciated.

a

[Joseph Przybyla]

Thanks Artie, I remember well the morning we spent at Circle B, Lake Morton and Lake Mirror. I love the image, I have images very similar that I need to revisit because the tufts of feathers on the head are not as white. Very sharp details, lovely color palette and good HA. Thank you for sharing.

[Paul Burdett]

Killer image Artie...amazing detail.

[Brian Sump]

Artie, this is a beautiful portrait. I yearn to shoot one of these someday soon...

Wish for a bit more room for the head and neck to breathe but understand the consequences of that changing the portrait crop. Would be worth taking a crack at it anyway.

Good to see you here and posting!

[dankearl]

A nice tight portrait, no eye contact makes it less than stellar...

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

Very Nice Feather details. Not so fan about the details on the head. I like eye.

TFS

[David Roach]

I love the way the frame is filled with this sinewy beauty. Like Joe, those white white whites of the breeding plumage stand out in this one for me. TFS

[arash_hazeghi]

nice light and good details, I am OK with the lack of eye contact because the bird is preening, can't look at us and preen at the same time.

TFS

[annmpacheco]

It's a beauty Artie, love the interest of all the feathers and patterns, the head whites make it special for me.

[Bill Dix]

Pretty amazing detail. I might have considered a slightly looser crop - just personal preference. Lake Morton is a great place for a variety of species.

[Arthur Morris]

A nice tight portrait, no eye contact makes it less than stellar...

Thanks, Dan, but I do not understand the "no eyue contact" comment. If the bird were looking at me instead of the spot it is preening the image wouild not make sense :)

a

[Arthur Morris]

Artie, this is a beautiful portrait. I yearn to shoot one of these someday soon...

Wish for a bit more room for the head and neck to breathe but understand the consequences of that changing the portrait crop. Would be worth taking a crack at it anyway.

Good to see you here and posting!

Thank, Wesley. A bit more room left and above would have been nice if a bit less clean tight and graphic. Good to be back posting; I have been a bit remiss :)

a

[Arthur Morris]

Very Nice Feather details. Not so fan about the details on the head. I like eye.

TFS

Thanks, Krishna. What does "not so fan" mean?

a

[John Mack]

Beautiful portrait. I will tell you what's not to like here. Nothing!

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

Thanks, Krishna. What does "not so fan" mean?

a

Hi Artie what I mean’t was that I would have burn’t certain portion on the head. Those white feathers are minor distraction for me.

A minor point, I like the image none the less