Ibis on green with reflection.

[Bob Blanchard]

Captured this past weekend at Ding Darling. It has become very difficult to get these low profile images there in the mornings now. They have moved the boundary signs back so that you can no longer lay out in the mud without "breaking the rules". You are now forced to lay in a very uncomfortable position along the bank, with the mowed shrubbery poking at you the whole time. Not much fun at all! Anyway, I'll still do what it takes to get the images right, or I'll move on to better places where I can.

I'm thinking that maybe cloning a slight break in the water dribbling off his beak might be better? I think the bubble under the leg joint has to go too. Thoughts?

Canon 50D, 600mm f/4L, f/4, ISO 200, -1/3 EV, 1/2000, tripod (extended out flat), 8:15 AM Sunday morning, third lagoon at Ding Darling NWR.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great angle, light, details and water colors. I would give it a bit more room at the top.

[Bob Blanchard]

Thanks Axel. Believe it or not, I'll have to add canvas to do that! I'm finding the 600 to be a bit too much glass on the 50D. My 1DsMII is in the shop getting a new shutter, so this is almost a full frame image (cropped for alignment). I agree though, I think a bit more on the top will work. I'll add some canvas and fix it. Thanks!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Thanks Axel. Believe it or not, I'll have to add canvas to do that! I'm finding the 600 to be a bit too much glass on the 50D.

That is a nice problem to have. :)

[Bob Blanchard]

That is a nice problem to have. :)

LOL - Very True! I don't think I'm going to get much sympathy here for having full-frame super-telephoto images. One can only try :).

[Adams Serra]

Hi Bob,
I Agree with Axel as far as more room on top. One of the reasons I rather go to Estero than Ding Darling is that at Estero you have no problems getting low angle images.

Adams

[Bob Blanchard]

Hi Bob,
I Agree with Axel as far as more room on top. One of the reasons I rather go to Estero than Ding Darling is that at Estero you have no problems getting low angle images.

Adams

Agree. Little Estero is far better than Ding. It's one of my regular spots.

[bill kominsky]

Boy the trials and tribulations of wildlife photography, a real hardship to struggle with a 600 and a full frame camera, agree with all the above and a great shot well done.

Bill

[Daniel Cadieux]

I'm thinking that maybe cloning a slight break in the water dribbling off his beak might be better? I think the bubble under the leg joint has to go too. Thoughts?

Answers to your two questions: no, and no :-) I would however fix the vertical white line in the bill's reflection. I also wish the eye was visible in the reflection. Otherwise kudos for another top-notch low angle image!

[Bob Blanchard]

Here's a quick repost with a bit more canvas, and my two suggested mods. Sorry Dan - fixed this before I saw your post :-(

[Todd Frost]

Another vote for the original, simply stunning. Whites handled well, bg, head turn and shooting angle all top notch. Not sure if we should always retouch reality just because we can:D. (FWIW, I am not against cloning at all)

Todd

[Daniel Cadieux]

Here's a quick repost with a bit more canvas, and my two suggested mods. Sorry Dan - fixed this before I saw your post :-(

Hehe:). I like the resulting water drip, nice touch...but I prefer the bubble intact.

[Bob Blanchard]

One more repost - added Dan's suggested fixes, and even blurred in an eye for him :-) Will be interested in more opinions on the water drip. If the prevailing opinion is leave as original, I'll just add some canvas and fix the beak flare in reflection. I also touched up the spectral highlights on the beak as well as the reflection here.

[Sid Garige]

Bob,

Like the repost. Reflection is wonderful.

[Tony Whitehead]

I was quite happy with the bubble and water drip until I saw your repost. Bright reflection needed to go and eye reflection is a nice touch but I think it should be lower in the image and further left.

[Stu Bowie]

Although there is nothing wrong with your repost, I still like the original, mainly for the bubble. Whites exposed nicely, and overall, an excellent image Bob.

[Bob Blanchard]

I was quite happy with the bubble and water drip until I saw your repost. Bright reflection needed to go and eye reflection is a nice touch but I think it should be lower in the image and further left.

I agree. I missed the location of the eye by a bit. Easy fix.