American Oystercatcher

[Ray Rozema]

Taken in AM
Nikon D200 600 mm TC 1.4
aperture priority Matrix meter
1/640 ISO 320 F7.1
Canvas added to top. Few grains of sand removed from bill and small pebble behind bird removed

Thanks for suggestions
Ray Rozema
Sheldon CA

[Bob Miller]

Ray...I really like the sharpness you have here on the head.....the legs and feet need some sharpening....nice feather detail and exposure

[John Chardine]

Love it, full stop. I like the selective focus here. The depth of field just isn't going to include the feet and rear of the body and no amount of sharpening is really going to help. This image is all about the eye, bill and head of the bird, and then your eye wanders to the mollusks in the sand. The reds of the bill are well controlled. Although the camera angle is a little high, in this case I like the effect.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Love it too and nice tripod technique. Love the eye and the shell in the sand anchors the foreground, well balanced frame. What I really like is the eye, with this species it is fantastic and you made it a center piece - well done and a great moment in nature captured again.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Ray, this is an excellent image - like it a lot! You did a super job of the exposure and color balance. The bird really pops against that background. Good show!

[Ray Rozema]

Thanks very much to everyone for comments and suggestions

Ray Rozema

[Marc Scott-Parkin]

Awesome shot! The sharp and colorful eye and bill give it the "wow" factor. Seems to be a bit of a halo just above the head though, or maybe it's just the background?