Short-billed Dowitcher

[John Chardine]

I was out for a casual walk with friends today but I'm glad I lugged the gear around with me. This immature Short-billed Dowitcher was happily feeding close by, in the Sackville Waterfowl Park. I tried for a lower angle but it was not possible. The lighting was from the left and pretty harsh so I was saved by the flash and beamer. Dowitcher is apparently an Iroquoian word.

Slight cleanup of veg in water. Darkened pupil which was a little "steely" from the flash. Cropped and sharpened.

Canon EOS 50D, 400 mm f5.6
capture date: 6 September 2009, 11:27 AM
exposure program: Aperture Priority
ISO speed: 400
shutter speed: 1/1000
aperture: f6.3
exposure bias: +0.0
metering: Pattern
flash: ON - beamer, -1

[Randy Stout]

John:

Very nice use of flash, natural looking result. Good eye work. Sharp, well exposed. Drip a plus.

Wish perhaps there was a bit less going on in the foreground, but overall nice.

Pays to be prepared!

Randy

[Aidan Briggs]

Interesting about the origin of the name. A lower angle, and nicer light would be nice, but I think that you made the best possible results from the situation, with some excellent flash work. I miht consider dropping a small slice from the top. Nice exposure, BG, and habitat too.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

A lower angle would have been great but I like being able to see the ripples and habitat. Sharpness and eye contact look good, too.

[Steve Canuel]

Nice job with the flash John. The BG ripples make this angle work for me. IMplies a sense of shoreline foraging which is enhanced by the water drop on the bill.

[Stu Bowie]

Good detail throughout John, and I like the droplet at the tip of his beak. BTW, great flashwork, and well captured.