Who's there???

[Blake Shadle]

I made this image out at Ft. Desoto around this time last year. This Wilson's Plover is displaying classic "don't move or you'll scare you'll subject away!" behavior. Knowing the different looks and behaviors of your subject before heading out into the field can give you an advantage. Most avian subjects exhibit some form of repetitive predictable behavior. And knowing what your subject is going to do before it does is always great for you and your images :)

Shooting Solution
Nikon D300 | Sigma 500mm f/4.5 | Manually focused
Manual Exposure | 1/1600 @ f/8 | ISO 400 | Hand held laying on the ground

Comments welcome and appreciated.

Thanks for looking.

[Kobus Tollig]

Great space exposure and bg. Great light.
I would lighten the eye just a bit. Well done on a great image

[Juan Aragonés]

Yes, i totally agree with you Blake, the best way to get good bird images is to know how the birds behave and to take advantage of that information because with a litle time observing them it is very easy to detect repetitive patterns that can be used to get THE image.
In this image the most I like is the composition and the pose of the bird. The green color in the top is fantastic but I would prefer a version with more green area or a version with no green. The image looks a bit bright to my taste (not hot, just bright) and I think that a darker version would be much better. Terrific low angle and I am wondering why you decided to manually focus?

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

Very nice image. Love the green layer. Pose and the story behind is cool.
Good manual focusing :) No need glasses yet ;)

Szimi

[Stu Bowie]

Great DOF, and love the soft light and colours in this. I like the comp as is, although I can see this as a vertical too. I find the green in the top half a bit distracting. It seems to spoil the pastel colours.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Nice low angle. Good colours. This can work as a vertical, however I like the present composition. I agree that it is important to know the behaviour of animals and birds. To be a good photographer one needs to be a good naturalist.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Blake Shadle]

Yes, i totally agree with you Blake, the best way to get good bird images is to know how the birds behave and to take advantage of that information because with a litle time observing them it is very easy to detect repetitive patterns that can be used to get THE image.
In this image the most I like is the composition and the pose of the bird. The green color in the top is fantastic but I would prefer a version with more green area or a version with no green. The image looks a bit bright to my taste (not hot, just bright) and I think that a darker version would be much better. Terrific low angle and I am wondering why you decided to manually focus?

Thanks, Juan :) I've been using my laptop lately which can be somewhat unreliable for gauging how bright an image really is. I'll open it up on my desktop and see what I can do. My lens doesn't Auto focus (have to get it fixed), so for the past year or so everything that I've photographed has been manual focus.

Thanks everyone!

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

I Iove the pose,low angle and the fantastic bg!!!

[Mark Dumbleton]

Super stuff here Blake! Agree on image being a bit bright. Super BG and angle! Well done!

[Randy Stout]

Blake:

Nice to see you posting. Techs have been covered. The brightness is OK on this monitor.

It seems to me that there is a slight yellow color cast, but it may just be all the reflected light from the sand.

Thanks for sharing!

Randy

[Randy Stout]

Blake:

I set the white point on the brightest spot on the breast to see if it would help with the colorcast.

It seems more neutral to my eye. The breast does look pretty hot now, but only reads about 248 or so for me, so still OK.

Just an option.

Cheers

Randy

[Blake Shadle]

I can't make any color judgments on this laptop (pretty unreliable). I'm gonna' take your word for it. On this display removing the yellow takes away the evening light I was photographing in. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts by way of a repost.

[Randy Stout]

Blake:

I didn't catch that this was an evening shot, so I can understand the 'golden light".

As always, it depends on what story you are telling with your image.

Cheers

Randy

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the angle, alert pose and details. Another vote for the removal of the green patch.

[Grace Scalzo]

Another fine image, Blake, and your words are a good reminder. The limited use of dof is just perfect, love the alert pose and the position of the plover in the frame. Yes, I'd eliminate the green too. Good to see you posting again, I always learn from you.

[Alfred Forns]

I like it as presented but could along with the green patch eviction Do prefer the original post with the soft warm light Lots of feel and one fine image Overloard !!!

[Kiran Poonacha]

Great Image Blake, loved the colours in the BG, the green on top rally addds to the frame, great angle too.. I agree blake without knowing your subject its very difficult making images.

[Juan Aragonés]

My lens doesn't Auto focus (have to get it fixed), so for the past year or so everything that I've photographed has been manual focus.

Thanks everyone!

That is a very good reason for manual focusing :) You did it very well

[James Shadle]

Beaker,
Dead sharp, beautiful subject and well exposed.

The composition is top shelf. The eye contact causes an instant connection with the viewer. The placement of your subject in the right +/- third of the frame is pleasing as well. The space above the head is good as well, balanced and not cramped feeling. I might and I say might like a little more room at the bottom.

As far as the color temperature goes-I like it. That color temp is why I get up at 4am.
I want to be in place for beautiful golden morning light.
Dad

[Ramon M. Casares]

Great pose, BG, light, exposure, detail, comp and colors! Big congratulations!