I've always had trouble getting close to these guys. Last rays of light were lovely on this one, so I lay down on the floor of the viewing platform at Cape May Lighthouse and hoped he would swim closer to me. Unfortunately, this is as close as he came before the light faded altogether. I would normally crop tighter but this is a pretty large crop as it is, and besides, it reinforces my impression of Grebes as small ducks on large ponds. (Wait 'til I get my 500 :)) C&C appreciated.
D90 | 80-400 VR @ 370mm | ISO 640 | 1/1250s @ f/7.1 | -0.3 EV | HH (braced elbows on deck)
I know what you mean, Bill...I've only seen a Grebe twice and both times they were miniscule in comparison to the body of water they were on. Even with my 400mm I could barely get them to show up in the frame.
As you noted, not the perfect HA here as he is swimming away from us but you do have eye contact and a lovely catch light in the eye. If this wasn't such a big crop I'd suggest taking some off the bottom (right where his neck ends in the reflection) and then cut some of the frame off behind him so he's sitting more on the right side of the image.
I'm going to have to keep my eye open for these guys...it's about the time of the year when they fly by my neck of the woods.
My wife and I had good luck in the same place last weekend, though the light was a bit harsh. I'm hoping to tone them down a bit and will try to post something here.
Bill: You and I are obviously in the same stomping grounds. I look forward to bumping into you at some point in the field.
Thanks Bob, Jules and Paul. Paul: Cape May is a bit too long a drive for me to get there for good light in a day trip, so I don't get down there but 3 or 4 times a year; more often Sandy Hook, Shark River, Barnegat, Brig. Hope to run into you, and look forward to seeing what you came up with at Cape May.
Pied-billed Grebe
