Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficolis)

[Mark Young]

Taken this afternoon. Some of these birds are starting to develop some breeding plummage in preparation for their great flight north to their breeding grounds

Canon 400D 300L f4 + 1.4tc @ 420mm, ISO200, AV, F5.6, 1/2000sec, HH (leaning on a rock)
PP: Cropped approx 20%, Levels, SH, NR, USM. Cloned out a couple Periwinkles in bg.

[Kurtis Diffenbaugh]

Wow Mark, this is a pretty photo; the lighting, the color, and feather texture is all very nice. The one suggestion would be to consider cloning out the spots in the lower left hand corner as it doesn't really add any balance to me...more of a distraction since the rest of the water is fairly empty.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Mark - lots to like here - good HA and eye contact - like the water drop. Like the low shooting angle and looks sharp.
Feels just a little tight on the RHS and agree would remove the black blobs if it fits with your ethics.
Good show :)

[Mark Young]

Thanks for the comments and for viewing.

One thing that I want to improve with this and future shots is my sharpening technique. I read a really good article on it about 2 weeks ago, which I'll have a look at redoing with this image in the next couple of days.

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Mark

Agree on comments just the little room on the right and would clone the spots on the right !! Love the look and feel Didn't see the exp comp but you seemed to have nailed it !! Excellent PS work .. with these type just a few tweaks are needed Big Congrats !!!