Moment of Impact

[Ed Vatza]

Not sure if this will fly or not? (No pun intended.)

We were at Sandy Hook (NJ) this morning and stopped to watch some Least Terns diving for food in one of the tidal pools. It was great fun to watch them fluttering in mid-air and then diving straight down and crashing into the water. Trying to catch the behavior was another story. Here is an image from the moment of impact.

Canon 50D; Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS lens w/2x TC

1/3200 sec @ f/5.6; ISO 400

[Aidan Briggs]

I like this except that the splash is cut off at the top. I think it would look better as a vertical with the full splash. You also might try sharpening the water and bird a bit, as they look a bit soft.

[Amy Marques]

I like the splash but I think it overwhelms the bird. Great timing though!

[Morkel Erasmus]

ditto softness but great timing! vertical comp would have nailed this one!

[Ed Vatza]

Thanks Aidan. Thanks Amy. Thanks Morkel. Amy that was my primary concern. Aidan I tried a vertical crop and more sharpening (maybe too much!). Here you go.

[David Thomasson]

I think the size of the splash is fine. Its size conveys the force with which that little bird hit the water. A smaller
splash would be nearly so dramatic. Great capture at the right instant.

[Aidan Briggs]

Ed, the repost is way better IMO. Sharpening looks perfect to me. The only thing I would do is remove the dark blob in the upper right.

[David Fletcher]

The repost is so much better Ed! Thanks. That blob in the top could go, but overall, this is leagues better and conveys a much more powerful story.

[denise ippolito]

Ed, I like the re-post also and agree w/ evicting the small spot on top right. Sharpness looks good! I also like the action reflected in the water!!

[Connie Mier]

A difficult shot well executed. I really like the repost and don't mind that you can't see much of the bird.

[Ramon M. Casares]

That second repost makes a big difference, works much better IMO. Great timing, and stunning natural moment! Water IMO, looks a tad oversharpened though. Big congratulations!