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Thread: Wood Sandpiper Finland

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    Default Wood Sandpiper Finland

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    This was taken earlier this year in what I thought was a remote location in Finland. I had driven for hours without seeing another person or car and then stopped at a bend in a stream, close to the roadside, to take some photographs.

    I really wasn't expecting so see anyone whilst lying low in the grasses taking pictures. To my amazement several cars appeared over the time that I was there. The occupants got out, promptly filled their containers with the clear water close to the roadside, got back into their cars and drove off ! I was surprised when this happened once, but after the third car appeared, lets say I was not amused.....

    However, it is possible that this bird has become used to the the regular "traffic" flow and maybe that helped me get closer to him than I had imagined possible.

    More images from my Scandinavian trip can be found HERE
    C&C welcome.

    Canon 1DMK4, f5.6, 1/500, 500mm

    Cheers

    Austin

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Austin:

    I like the lighting, very soft. A bit more over your shoulder would have given more on the face, but it still works for me. The moss/lichen behind the rump is nice, the small point it is standing on, pretty clean water.
    I might consider toning down the brightest brown areas above the head, and perhaps just a little on the brighter water reflections around the perch. It does look like it might need a bit of CW rotation.

    Interesting story too.

    Cheers

    Randy

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Why were you not amused? Did the folks scare other birds away? The image is sharp and the EXP good but you needed to move a bit to your right to better parallel the subject and you needed to level the camera by rotating the lens in the lens barrel. I keep a bubble level in the hot shoe when I am not using flash.
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    Forum Participant Joe Senzatimore's Avatar
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    Love the low angle and soft light. The comp. makes this a very strong image , IMHO.

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    BPN Member Alan Murphy's Avatar
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    Nice comp and setting. Agree on the rotation and a slight head turn for me.

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    Lovely image with good light, sharpness and background - creates a nice mood. Agree with some clockwise rotation.

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    Thanks for the feedback everyone. Always appreciated.

    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    Why were you not amused? Did the folks scare other birds away? .
    Artie, This bird disappeared each time a vehicle came to collect water, but thankfully not too far away each time. I was crawling slowly to get closer without frightening the subject away, only for a truck to turn up, the occupant get out and scare the subject away each time. It was just very ironic. I was in the middle of nowhere, yet it was a popular place for locals to stop.

    Cheers

    Austin

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    Nice shot; handsome species, found here in eastern Eurasia also. I'm adding my vote for a clockwise rotation. And yes, I'd have liked you to have gone a little to the right, as Artie said, assuming that was possible. Interference from people is, as you seem to realize, a double-edged sword. Had people not been regularly going to your spot, then the sandpiper may not have tolerated your approach in the first place.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Austin Thomas View Post
    Thanks for the feedback everyone. Always appreciated. Artie, This bird disappeared each time a vehicle came to collect water, but thankfully not too far away each time. I was crawling slowly to get closer without frightening the subject away, only for a truck to turn up, the occupant get out and scare the subject away each time. It was just very ironic. I was in the middle of nowhere, yet it was a popular place for locals to stop. Cheers Austin
    Thanks for the added info, Austin. I think that you need to thank the folks next time..... Without regular traffic you might likely have scared this one off at the start never to return. I could tell you some stories about folks on the beaches of FLA. Craig is right about the two-edged sword thing....
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

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    BPN Viewer Mark Young's Avatar
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    I like your composition here with the bird on the small island.

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