Sooty Oyster Catcher - using my beak

[Tom Rambaut]

7d, 500mm + 1.4ext, 1/640 @ 6.3. ISO 400.

Sunset: for various logistical reasons the light was coming in at a bit of an angle to the bird.

I did not have the sun behind me but off to the right of my right shoulder.

Thanks Tom

[AlvanBuckley]

Cool bird. The HA could be better but you take what you can get! Great details throughout the bird. Wish the back wasn't in a shadow.
TFS

[Norm Dulak]

Interesting bird foraging for food, nicely captured. The pale water background and foreground set off the richly colored bird nicely. But the head angle and eye contact are not the best IMO, and I think the image could be improved a bit.

You might apply S&H, to bring out more detail in the dark, rear portion of the bird. And I would back off on the sharpening to eliminate the halo.
But thanks for sharing this image with us!

[Tom Rambaut]

I can see that halo now. My eyesight is getting worse!! :eek:

Thanks for the comments.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Yes, the light angle wasn't best as you already point out but whatever light does hit the oystercatcher is of the beautiful golden variety. Good feeding behaviour depicted, but with the body/head angled away it loses a bit of connection with the viewer. Sharpening looks quite agressive thus causing that thin halo around the contour of the subject.

[James Salywoda]

Gorgeous light excellet detail and that low perspective is outstanding. Excellent stuff Tom