Eared Grebe breakfast

[Kerry Perkins]

It's been a while since I posted here so I thought I'd share this little one...

I got up before the sun at the Salton Sea to watch these juvi grebes catch their breakfast. This one had just plucked this morsel from the water. You can see the sun coming up behind me in its eye. I love to watch these birds fishing and playing around in the water!

7D, EF400mm f/5.6L
Manual mode, f/5.6@1/2500 ISO 400 WB 5100K
AI Servo autofocus, hand-held no flash

[Allen Hirsch]

Wow - that's a mouthful!

I like the water drops on its back - great detail.

Its eye may be a smidge too bright - but it's probably the way the light actually fell on its head.

[Lance Peters]

Hi kerry - welcome back!!!
Love the action and the sun in the eye.
I would be tempted to crop just a little from the top if it were mine!
:)

[Chris Korman]

Very tranquil setting and what a mouthful! Good timing.

[Julie Kenward]

That IS a mouthful! Wow! My question for you on this one is whether or not the red eye was really that bright? I think the head and eye area could use a little toning down but the rest of the image works for me. Glad to have you back!

[Kerry Perkins]

Thanks guys! Would you believe that the eye has been toned down quite a bit? The way the sun was hitting these red eyes was amazing but blew out the red channel of the image. I probably should have gone farther with the de-saturation. Thanks for comments!