Long-billed Dowitchers

[Nancy Bell]

Photographed just a few miles inland from the coast in Oregon, August 2011. Not familiar with coastal weather patterns I was surprised to discover that while the immediate coast was foggy, just a few miles inland the sun was shining. It was late morning when I discovered this small group of dowitchers feeding in the mud on the edge of a lake.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 400 f4 DO + 1.4x, 1/500, f10, exp. comp. +1/3, ISO 400

C & C welcome & appreciated.

[Melissa Groo]

Beautiful birds and nice comp, Nancy. Particularly like the bird on the right, lovely pose and head angle. Sharpness and EXP look great.
Woudl have been nice to see a lower angle. The birds appear a little bit contrasty, can you pull back on that a bit, do a reverse S curve in PS maybe?

[Ron Sprunger]

Great job getting both birds in focus and nice pose. I agree on backing off the contrast, but really like the image.

[Nancy Bell]

Thanks for the comments on the contrast. I was trying to balance the muddy waters with the birds and overdid it.