Black Oystercatcher

[Aidan Briggs]

One from a while back at the beach. The legs have a few hotspots here, but they look better in the TIFF. There was definitely something wrong with the beak on this oystercatcher, although it is difficult to see much on the jpeg.

I removed a few small dark spots from the water.

50D, 100-400 at 400mm
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 400

[Aidan Briggs]

Oops... Looks like I forgot to run NR on the BG.

[Dan Walker]

Great exposure, love the feather detail and the raised foot, although I might like to see the foot sharper, it does show movement, either way. I like the OOF surf in the BG.

[Steve Canuel]

Nice detail in those black feathers. One of the few I've seen with an almost rounded pupil. I like the raised foot and the sharp line his feet create in relation to the otherwise blurred BG.

[Aidan Briggs]

Thanks guys. I like the foot. I think it implies motion. There were three oystercatchers that day, and this was the only one with a prefect pupil.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the light, angle, walking pose, exposure and BG. I wish the raised leg were a bit sharper but know how difficult that can be. It looks as if the lower mandible is shorter, is that what you mean?

[Peter Farrell]

Very nice, as previously stated; great detail on the black feathers, great BG. I like the glassy look to the FG water and the few water drops from the lifting of the foot.
I bet the BG noise is not in the full size image.
Peter

[Aidan Briggs]

Thanks for stopping by Axel and Peter. Axel, yes that is what I meant about the bill. The base of the bill also has some scarring and is missing part of its outer layer.

Peter, thanks. You are right. The BG noise is from sharpening the web-sized image

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Aidan, great exposure on the blacks, and I like the low angle. The raised foot does add, and I think their bills are supposed to be like that.