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Thread: Low flying Phalaropes

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    Default Low flying Phalaropes

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    I find it tough getting a good image of these red-necked phalaropes in flight... this group probably had few thousand birds flying low over water twisting and turning frequently. I kept my focus on a segment of the flock and panned with it to get this image. Used 1/2000 sec @f6.3 and ISO 400. For processing applied fractalius and changed opacity of the layer. Then used a mask to selectively open up eyes and wings. Hope you like it...

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    Very nice application and love the blue water. The slight panning does give a sense of motion. I always wish we could get lucky with these and have complete separation of the birds but only luck would get us that. TFS

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    Thanks Nick. With such a large flock, chances of getting a separation is always low... but I guess we will keep trying and you are right - may get lucky one day!

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    Hi Indranil, this is one of the nicest group flight images that I've seen posted in awhile. The birds are pleasingly soft yet show detail with the water adding a nice backdrop that accentuated the birds. If this were mine I would evict the rear bird in the front and the rear bird in the pair behind them. Good job!

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    Thanks Dave. Here is a repost without the overlapping and the oof bird...

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    Default Repost

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    Hi, This is what I had in mind. The oof bird didn't bother me very much but the 2 birds with body merges did. I don't mind the wing merge on the rt. I took out the 2 and added a small bit to the front since the bird was very close.
    If you have room I might add a small bit to the rear also. Finally I added a mild levels adj just to give a bit more separation. All in all not an easy image but you did a good job!
    Please excuse the hasty PS work...

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    Thanks Dave. This is looking good. I will rework the master.

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    Indranil, this has been an interesting post to follow. I'm not a bird photographer - yet! - and I've followed the conversation between you and Dave, in particular with interest. I do think Dave's repost is a strong image..I might add a little bit more to the RHS, creating some separation between the trailing phalarope...looking forward to learning more.

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    Nice group of birds over beautiful water. I like Dave's removal of a couple of birds. I'd like to see the birds stand out a bit more from the water. Lovely light and reflections of the birds in the water.

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