Masked Lapwing

[Jenny Wren]

This is a very scary first post! I am a keen newbie to photography (two years). I am passionate about wildlife and birds in particular. My camera has given me the opportunity to get close to nature.Whilst I love roaming around the outdoors, I am a complete dolt when it comes to technical things; ie computers and such.

Commonly called Plovers; they are a constant source of entertainment when they are nesting. (on the ground, generally in open paddocks) They guard their nests and babies with great tenacity. This one is the "spur winged" plover. Unfortunately, his spur is hidden in this image.

I am not proficient at PS or photography for that matter, but I am here to learn. All assistance and critisisms are very welcome.

Canon 400D
1/400 sec f7.1 ISO 100 Focal length 400mm

[Harold Davis]

wow, jenny!! stunning first post. and big welcome the BPN!!! the foreground and bg are awesome. only thing i see is that the light is coming from the right and above? but you got away with it because it was soft enough. please post your exif data. will help in the critiquing, but i think a little fill flash would have helped in the shadows.

awesome image!! thanks for sharing.

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Jenny,
A big warm welcome to our BPN family...I like your first post...this is a sweet image, you have a good head angle and sharp eye contact...agree with the lighting advise mentioned by Doctor Davis. Once again welcome to the family...:cool:

P.S. Please post the EXIF data on your future post so that we can help you...:cool:

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Hi Jenny and WELCOME. I gather you are in Oz? :D Even better!

What a great starter of a post. You should be proud indeed! I like the foreground flowers very much and the background smooth sea also works well. The only slight letdown is the strong lighting, but we all do that. Your image is really good! Don't be shy, we are all here to learn.

Cheers :)

[Phil Ertel]

Lovely bird with good colors and detail. Good comments above. I also like that you have captured an image that includes habitat. Thanks for sharing.

[Kerry Perkins]

Ms. Wren, I think you were destined to be a birder! ;) Big warm welcome to the flock! What a lovely first post. The colors and detail are excellent and you have a great pose. Would love to hear about your camera and the techs. These details help us all, both in the critiques and in the sharing of how you did it. Looking forward to lots more from you! Your fellow Ozzies here are excellent photographers. Must be the water... :cool:

[Katherine Enns]

Hi Jenny, I should say welcome too, because I have only been here about a week, myself. Your Masked Lapwing photograph is superb. You are not alone; I too know nothing very much, but fortunately people here are wonderful.

ke

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Jenny Big Warm Welcome !!!

Impressive first post or any other for that mater !!! I like a lot of things here, low angle, head position, exposure, sharpness and overall feel !!! Bird is taking enough of the frame and you place him with a little more room up front !! .... you have done your homework !!! ... just post some tech info next time !! Looking forward to many more !!!

[Jenny Wren]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and kind words. I have now placed exif data for those interested. I was so nervous when I posted I forgot all about it.

only thing i see is that the light is coming from the right and above? but you got away with it because it was soft enough.

Harold, yes light coming from right and above. Are you thinking maybe more in front?

You are not alone; I too know nothing very much, but fortunately people here are wonderful.

Thank you Katherine. This is comforting...you've been here a week and have over 50 posts!

you have captured an image that includes habitat.

Thanks Phil. I have seen posts where there may be a branch OOF and comments made on the shifting same. There's a lot of OOF foreground in my post. Is there unwritten rules about backgrounds and foregrounds being in or out of focus?..and how much to leave in?

I really appreciate your assistance.

JW