Went looking for swans and got an oyster catcher. From a local ferry terminal causeway. 50D, 400/5.6 lense at 5.6, Av mode 1/500, EC+1, ISO800. Interested to know if I over sharpened and left halos.
Dave
Hi Dave - love oyster catchers - exposure looks good - nice details in the blacks.
Feels like it needs some CW rotation, The HAP may arrest you on this one - as the head is angled away from the camera, sometmes this is OK if the bird is looking at something in that direction - with this one though I think the ruffled feathers gives it away - bird has been preening.
Also when you are at the beach (as I have discovered myself) yo also need to take into account what the wtaer/waves are doing - personally I would have preffered this shot after the wave had come in.
Preening birds looks best with the head square to the film plane and this is very close, you did get a great pose. The comment on the wave is excellent and always keep in mind. With waves in the bg I always make multiple exposure since all will look different, best way to pick what you want later.
As presented might select the eye and brighten just a tad !!! Big Congrats on this one !!! btw you could stick a converter on your lens and produce very sharp images, no AF and need tripod !
Thanks for the excellent suggestions. The eye is weird; it seems to have an extra dot, and I have seen several like this.
I noticed I had not spent any time brightening up the eye until after I had saved for web. Too lazy and did not think any one would notice. Lesson learned. Thanks Alfred.
Dave
The eye is the same on all of the shots of oyster catchers I have taken as well - looks like there is a extra pupil nearly - I am not sure why, but just thouht I would let you know.
:)
Black Oyster Catcher
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