This is the photo taken two frames before the one I posted yesterday. This one shows both wings open... as some of you recommended. I did not select this one yesterday because I thought that the shadows under the wing would have been an issue and critiqued negatively. This was my first time at Merritt....and the first time I have seen multiple numbers of Spoonbills (was I a littled excited? - good thing my lense has VR). It was just after sunrise and the lighting was intense and the Spoonbills were coming in from my right. I did have the opportunity to experiment on settings on two previous arrivals and they were either too dark or too light....truth is they were terrible, even though sharp. I actually liked this one best.
Nikon D300 Nikon 300/2.8 VR lense ISO 400 F/4.5 @ 1/4000 Manual, Hand Held
If you set up a proper exposure in manual they all should come out fine !!! If its really early just keep up with the light changing !!! ... and sometimes you need to tone down the reds, looks fine here !!!
Ideally you don't want the shadow but a big keeper in my book !! I like the head position with all wing behind, sharp and well exposed. Would like to see a little more room in front than behind the bird and would blur the bg just a bit as if you had a 2.8 lens !!! Big Congrats on this one !!!
... btw if you fine on spoon wait since others will be arriving shortly, unusual to see only one .. all you need is the good wind direction !!!
Here is the correction with more canvas in front and less in back....did not extend it any further left due to blurred bird in the background which I did not think I could clone or fade....have not learned enough yet. Thanks for the encouragement.
Incoming Spoonbill
