Results 1 to 33 of 33

Thread: The Art of Skimming

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    10,347
    Threads
    403
    Thank You Posts

    Default The Art of Skimming

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    This young Black Skimmer chick was photographed last season. At first I thought it was drinking. However, I recently learned that it was actually skimming, and that the chicks start this practice soon after birth, with sand and/or water. I just love learning new and interesting facts about my subjects!

    Some of you may think that I added a catchlight. A friend of mine was photographing next to me with a flash. We both clicked simultaneously. The little catchlight was the result which I would not have had otherwise b/c it was rather late in the morning. As I am posting this, I can still remember the moment I snapped the shutter, and it is a special memory!

    Canon 1D3, Canon 300L F4 IS & 1.4
    F8, 1/2000sec, ISO 400, manual mode
    Handheld down on my belly in wet sand

    C & C always welcomed and appreciated,

    Marina Scarr
    www.marinascarrphotography.com
    Last edited by Marina Scarr; 07-13-2011 at 09:30 PM.

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Rotonda West , FL
    Posts
    3,642
    Threads
    198
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    So may I be the first to say Love it. Just love the super low angle that creates such a soft and beautiful water and reflection. I love the position of the chick and the fact that half of the beak is in the sand/water. Really nice.

  3. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Stoney Point, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    6,868
    Threads
    512
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Excellent image Marina. I like the composition, reflection, low angle and colours.

  4. #4
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Bangalore, India
    Posts
    161
    Threads
    33
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Love the low angle, and the reflection is an added bonus here. :)

  5. #5
    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
    Posts
    8,825
    Threads
    1,355
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Great angle and colors.
    Dan Kearl

  6. #6
    Glenda Simmons
    Guest

    Default

    An outstanding image! Your muddy clothes, paid off.

  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    23,119
    Threads
    1,523
    Thank You Posts
    Blog Entries
    55

    Default

    Marina, A wonderful sweet image. Nice low angle, sharp details and great behavior captured. Congrats!

  8. #8
    BPN Member David Pugsley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    255
    Threads
    65
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I only need to see this on a tiny iPhone to know I love it. Just a super image!
    david pugsley PHOTOGRAPHY
    http://www.davidpugsleyphoto.com

  9. #9
    Ofer Levy
    Guest

    Default

    Lovely behaviour shot!

  10. #10
    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    San Francisco, California, United States
    Posts
    18,545
    Threads
    1,318
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    excellent low angle with great light and details
    New! Sony Capture One Pro Guide 2022
    https://arihazeghiphotography.com/Gu.../Sony_C1P.html


    ------------------------------------------------
    Visit my blog
    http://www.arihazeghiphotography.com/blog

  11. #11
    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Nova Scotia
    Posts
    12,731
    Threads
    910
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Wow Marina,
    I can't believe you waited a whole year to post this beautiful shot. I would have posted it 2 minutes after taking it!
    I love everything about it, the low angle,the reflection, the "designer" ocean blues and greens in the BG and the chick is so cute. I realize how much I have to improve (see my chick shot from 2 days ago) and you have inspired me!
    TFS
    gail

  12. #12
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    479
    Threads
    46
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Really cool to know the little bugger is learning to skim!!! That makes this extra cute

    If this were mine I might remove the specular highlight(?) (right hand side, middle)

  13. #13
    Forum Participant christopher galeski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    ENGLAND LANCASHIRE
    Posts
    5,106
    Threads
    360
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    nice one,love the colors,low angle,reflection,nice pose,thanks.

  14. #14
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    14,112
    Threads
    820
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Marina:

    Lovely,soft feel to the image, despite the bright light. Great angle, action captured.

    Agree with Chris about the specular highlight .

    If you have more room below, might add in just enough foreground to separate the reflection a bit from frame edge.

    Well done!

    Randy
    MY BPN ALBUMS

    "Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy" Sir Isaac Newton

  15. #15
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Somewhere in Africa
    Posts
    3,723
    Threads
    251
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Man I like this!!! All works so well together and love the soft textures and colors. Great image!

  16. #16
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Witbank, South Africa
    Posts
    294
    Threads
    12
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    O wow, amazing portrait captured here! Love the angle and detail. Exposure is spot on! Just perfect.

    Superbly captured. Very well done from me!

  17. #17
    IOTY Winner 2010 Chris Kotze's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,254
    Threads
    137
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Superb image!! excellent angle detail and colours
    Chris Kotze

  18. #18
    Brendan Dozier
    Guest

    Default

    I agree, Marina, this is a wonderful behavior image and composition. Excellent in every way, really like this a lot, very well done! Cheers!

  19. #19
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    3,065
    Threads
    1,300
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Marina. Lovely image hope you did not get sand on your lens with such a low approach

  20. #20
    Lifetime Member Jim Neiger's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Kissimmee, Florida, USA
    Posts
    1,610
    Threads
    287
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Beautiful image, Marina! Its the kind of image that people will remember. My only suggestion that may improve this already fine image, would be to do the following:

    1. Select all
    2. CTRL J - new layer
    3. Change layer blending mode to MULTIPLY
    4. Adjust opacity to about 30%
    5. Flatten layers.

    The image appears slightly overexposed (not blown) and the above will improve it IMO.
    Jim Neiger - Kissimmee, Florida

    Get the Book: Flight Plan - How to Photograph Birds in Flight
    Please visit my website: www.flightschoolphotography.com 3 spots remaining for Alaska bald eagles workshop.

  21. #21
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Sarasota, Florida, United States
    Posts
    3,522
    Threads
    475
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice clean image, love it.

  22. #22
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Marina, you have captured the moment perfectly. Super perspective, and love the softer colours in this, even though you say, you captured this in harsher light. Take a bow.

  23. #23
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Guelph, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    8,509
    Threads
    827
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Wonderful low angle shot, Marina.

  24. #24
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Orlando
    Posts
    1,376
    Threads
    213
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Extraordinary.

  25. #25
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Sarasota X Venice Florida
    Posts
    207
    Threads
    31
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Cool Beans SM.

  26. #26
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Dallas, Texas.
    Posts
    6,260
    Threads
    426
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Marina, awesome shot. Low angle makes all the difference in this one. And very nice angle on the bird. BG is superb. loved the pastel shades.

  27. #27
    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    10,347
    Threads
    403
    Thank You Posts

    Default Re-post

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    I removed the highlight which I honestly had not seen. I used Jim Neiger's trick for making the photo a little darker but liked opacity on 12 instead of 30. Thanks Jim for the tip.

    It's tough to tell the difference when the pictures are so far apart.
    Last edited by Marina Scarr; 07-14-2011 at 06:03 PM.
    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
    Website, Facebook

  28. #28
    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    In the whole wide world!
    Posts
    2,788
    Threads
    332
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Marina, a real winner! Jimmy's trick works great to pump up clouds in a landscape image too.

    Specular highlight in OP - I either do not know what it is or where it is or I am blind!
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

  29. #29
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Pretoria, South Africa
    Posts
    510
    Threads
    118
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Great low angle and IQ! Sweet!

  30. #30
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    3,867
    Threads
    169
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Amazing image - high on the cuteness scale.
    All the positive have been covered - just another round of applause from me.

  31. #31
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Orlando
    Posts
    1,376
    Threads
    213
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay Gould View Post
    Specular highlight in OP - I either do not know what it is or where it is or I am blind!
    Jay, I was was waiting for my good buddy Marina to chime in but since she hasn't I will. I believe this is the spot in reference to.

  32. #32
    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    In the whole wide world!
    Posts
    2,788
    Threads
    332
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Ah! Thanks, Mate.
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

  33. #33
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Rotonda West , FL
    Posts
    3,642
    Threads
    198
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Marina Scarr View Post
    I removed the highlight which I honestly had not seen. I used Jim Neiger's trick for making the photo a little darker but liked opacity on 12 instead of 30. Thanks Jim for the tip.

    It's tough to tell the difference when the pictures are so far apart.
    That trick did seem to work nicely. I must try it.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics