Black Oystercatcher

[Indranil Sircar]

This was taken near Pigeon Point lighthouse off hwy 1. The chicks were just born and were warmed by the adult. This was the only time the parent got up and I got a good view of the chicks. The settings were -

40D, Sigma 50-500mm @ 500mm hand held
1/1000 sec, f/8 Mode: Av EC: 0 Metering: Evaluative ISO: 400

Applied NR on the BG, selective sharpening and USM. What you think about this crop? Does it work for you? All C&C will be appreciated.

~ Indranil

[Mital Patel]

dear indranil,

could be nice if we had space on left instead right as the family went off too left. but this is what moment is and it sometimes not allow you to have a photographic angle from where you are.

So this will be fine for me to look as a frame. but softer though but good light and exposed.
what if we reduce the bottom little bit ?
i think that would give more prominent to the family.
just a thought

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great to see the chicks, most oystercatchers on the East Coast have only one chick. It would have been great if the parent had faced the other way.

[Indranil Sircar]

Thanks Mital. This is a big crop; I do have enough to get more to the left. One of the reason for choosing this crop was to show the ledge and perspective on where the adult and chicks are. I did not like the larger rock face on the left as it was not interesting.

[Indranil Sircar]

Great to see the chicks, most oystercatchers on the East Coast have only one chick. It would have been great if the parent had faced the other way.

Thanks Axel, the entire period of four hrs I spent there, not once the parent faced the otherway! I guess it was a way of not loosing sight and protecting the chicks going over the ledge.

[Scott Frye]

Looks like a perilous perch and I like the habitat shot as is. Might try to lighten the rocks under the family just a bit.

[Arthur Morris]

Interesting with the chicks but this image does not work for me. In addition to the problems noted above the light angle is a bit from the left (and a bit harsh). The chicks are in shade. And the adult is angled slightly away from you. IAC, taking off half the rock on the bottom would improve it.

[Indranil Sircar]

Artie, thanks for the feedback. Here is another version with a different crop.

[Stu Bowie]

We all wish for perfect comps. If we dont achieve it, either we delete the image, or show what we captured. In this case, great to see the chick, most of us may never see. The blacks look well exposed, and your repost does look better. I would maybe take a bit off the top to get away from the squre crop.

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Indrinal, The repost is much better. And I was wrong, the chicks were not in the shade.

[Indranil Sircar]

Stuart, Artie, thanks for all the suggestions and feedback.

[Arthur Morris]

YAW Inranil. And thank you for your membership support.