Sony A850~Sony 70-400G@400mm~ISO 3200~1/640 sec~F6.3~manual exposure~HH~overcast~1-14-2011~Houston, Texas~CS5
There is a small lake in Southwest Houston (Hwy 59 @ Williams Trace) that is the winter home of this Anhinga. I've been taking pictures of him for several years, and I really think he recognizes me since he now allows me to get real close, as long as I move very slowly. This was not the case at all in the beginning. This is the first year he is sporting adult male plummage, with the blacks as opposed to the browns of his younger years.
Comments and critique welcomed. regards~Bill
This is a really nice close-up, William. The bird is well exposed and there's nice feather detail. I am not entirely sure about the feathers on the back of the neck though, they seem to have been bleached out some by the white of the background. Or maybe they're just spiky?
The image brought a smile to my face because from what you can see you just know the pose it is assuming here. I like that.
By the way, birds do indeed recognize individual people. There was a study last year that proved this for mockingbirds and crows.
I always like to think about how a photograph effects me viscerally and emotionally. As soon as I opened this image it "grabbed" me, and I really like it. I feel as though he's looking right at me, almost posing for the picture. Maybe he's glad to see you :-).
I think the exposure is spot on for the bird. If I was to be picky, I would agree with Levina on the feathers but I think, given the background you were shooting against, it was unavoidable and you did a nice job balancing the exposure.
I agree with Matthew here - because the BG is white at the top the spikes blending in don't really bother me that much. Besides, who can get past that beautiful eye! Wowee!!! The pose is fantastic and the depth of detail in the underwing is fabulous. Very nice work, Bill.
And yes, I have to agree that birds can remember specific people. I had a mother Muscovy duck with a brood this past fall that came running as soon as she saw me and my camera. I never did feed them so I know it wasn't that and she didn't seem to respond to others like she did me. I spent so much time just sitting amongst her babies that she totally accepted me being around them...I have never felt so humbled.
The babies all left at the beginning of winter and I miss them like I cannot tell you. The lake just doesn't seem the same without those big awkward golden feet coming at me from all directions.
Male Anhinga
