SonyA700~Tamron 200-500mm@420mm~ISO400~F8~1/1600 sec~1-31-2009~Texas City Dike, Texas~CS4
The Texas City Dike used to be one of my favorite places to capture avian images. Unfortunately it was destroyed by Hurricane Ike in September 2008. Although the 5 mile road to its end was unusable and the dike was immediately "closed", for several months afterward I was able to bypass the barriers and walk out on it, take pictures of the ruins, and the birds. Unfortunately, shortly after this image was taken, some construction equipment was vandalized on the dike, no trespassing signs went up, and I stopped going. Just today I heard on the local TV news that over 400 people who had ventured onto the dike received $240 fines. I'm glad I didn't. But there was good news too; the dike may open by next fall.
comments and critique welcomed. regards~Bill
Last edited by WIlliam Maroldo; 11-18-2009 at 12:44 AM.
Very nice pose, love the sharpness, the feather details, the tail spread and your placement of the bird in frame. The side light made the right underwing in shadow but that doesn't bother me. The line in the background cutting the wing is a bit distracting.
Yes, I like this hovering pose a lot. Looks like the sun was very strong and you did a good job of controlling highlights. The leading edges of the wings are right at the limit with lots of details preserved elsewhere. I too am bothered by the horizontal line of the horizon cutting through the wings. Still, it's a very appealing image to me.
I like the flight angle Bill,
you have good details in the wings and good color rendition, my only point for improvement on the next capture is to watch the horizon line in relation to the bird's wings...looking forward to your next one...:cool:
Thanks guys! A few of my own observations: indeed there was a side light, and since I took the image 10 months ago, I have been more aware of light positioning. However,there is no indication the light was "strong" which I am assuming means high contrast. If it were there would be little detail in the shaded portions of the image. Using the fill-light slider in ACR would surely lighten it up, but along with the increases visibility of noise, significant recovery of detail would be unlikely. Therefore the light was not high contrast, but then again not soft light either, or no shadows would be present. Somewhere in between. As far as the horizon line: Birds in flight are obviously in rapid motion, and although I try to keep the horizon level, along with trying to keep the bird in focus, proper compositional placement of an horizon is a chance event at best. Appreciate the comments! regards~Bill
The horizon is just the luck of the draw so it is best to make lots of images, as you have it is probably the best intersecting position, got the head clear and its cut in pleasing manner.
Light wise for the wings is just the same, lots of images, so you get one with light throughout. Have found the hovering poses to have the most keepers ... and that involves food !!! :)
Ring-billed Gull
