Dovekie Portrait

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I made this on Long Island a couple of weeks ago. The bird was so tame that this is pretty much at minimum focus distance. Getting low was the real challenge and I used a step to get lower than the jetty. Unfortunately, there was no way to get the sun behind me, other than swimming. :) These birds are quite small and would probably fit in a hand and hardly ever come close to the shore.



1D4, 500f4, 1.4x, 1/400s, f/11, ISO 400

[Keith Carver]

Beautiful detailed portrait, Axel, excellent DOF. Perfect exposure on whites and blacks. Even with dark dovekie eyes, there's enough eye contact to make the connection, so the side lighting doesn't detract, IMO. A little tight in the frame, but not much you could do about it at minimum focusing distance.

[Gal Shon]

Excellent exposure and shapness. I like the sidelight here.
I would prefer it with a bit more air bottom and left.

[Paul Lagasi]

Nice portrait of a tough bird to see, let alone close up..nice details, color, sharpness...TFS

[Ryan Schain]

What a close shot of this species! I like the sharpness and exposure. You did well with the conditions presented to you.

[Bruce Enns]

Beautiful image Axel. The side lighting and perfect exposure really helps bring out the detail in both the black and white. Very cute bird. Did you try one with the bird filling even more of the frame?

Cheers!
Bruce

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Beautiful image Axel. The side lighting and perfect exposure really helps bring out the detail in both the black and white. Very cute bird. Did you try one with the bird filling even more of the frame?

Cheers!
Bruce

Thanks, Bruce! The distance in this image was 4.65m and MFD is 4.5m with the 500f/4 and I didn't have another lens with me.

[Jim Fenton]

Axel...

Wonderful image from close up...it looks like a pet!

Perfect exposure given the lighting conditions and the sharpness is superb.

[arash_hazeghi]

Nice Axel. Like the exposure and details, looks like the beak is slightly outside dof, even at f/11.

[Stu Bowie]

I didnt realise these guys were that small. I bet you really didnt want to get into the water anyway, being freezing cold. Lovely sharp detail, and well exposed on the whites. Have you got a full body image of this guy, as Im unfamiliar with this species.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I didnt realise these guys were that small. I bet you really didnt want to get into the water anyway, being freezing cold. Lovely sharp detail, and well exposed on the whites. Have you got a full body image of this guy, as Im unfamiliar with this species.

Thanks, Stuart! I posted an image of this little guy about two months ago. You can see it here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...hlight=dovekie

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks Axel. I had a look on your link.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Axel, I have read that they are a little over 8 inches. Very interesting looking bird...thx for sharing. Loved the exposure here.