Black-bellied plover

[allanrube]

I shot this on Tuesday morning, the last good day of shooting at Sandy Point. Since then, the shorebirds seem to have taken a break and gone somewhere else. I will give the place a pass on this Labor day weekend and hope the weather is good next week.

More than anything I am interested in what you may think of the crop. I took some off the top but liked the rectangular shape of this crop better. Also, I thought this crop gives a view of emptiness behind the bird.

D300 600 plus 1.7 tc - 1/800 at f 7.1 (auto)ISO 560.

[Matthew Studebaker]

Beautiful light and colors. Nice low angle and OOF background. The details especially in the head seem quite soft on my screen here though.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Crop is great but it seems soft here as well.

[Daniel Cadieux]

The crop itself looks good, but as already stated the plover's face is quite soft - most likely due to subject movement.

[allanrube]

Does this help. Perhaps the image cannot be salvaged - shame, I liked the pose. :(

[Gerald Kelberg]

I like the pose of the bird and the browns in the background complement the colours of the bird quite nicely - for me it is good to have the space.
However, 1/800th maybe is a bit slow for so much lens and such a quick moving bird. Perhaps a higher ISO would have given more speed and saved the day!

Thanks for showing!

Gerald

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the crop, eye contact and ice skater pose. Too bad the head is so soft.

[Peter Wallack]

The birds eye on me is compelling. You should have had him walking on somewhat more of a mauve than this metalic blue. :)

[allanrube]

Thanks for the comments. While I like the pose this one is headed to the scrap heap. I have a lot of problems focuses on bb plovers. They tend to come out soft. Sandpipers and other plovers, even when they move quicker than these bb, are easier to lock focus. It seems like there is plenty of contrast???

[David Fletcher]

Love the pose and comp Allan. The thumbnail is very eye catching. Tough combo as mentioned with a 600 & 1.7 for that ss on a nippy bird. TFS

[Stu Bowie]

Good comp Allan, and like how he seems to be supporting himself with his left leg. I agree with regards to the head being soft.