Molting, On the Beach, But Not a Shorebird

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created last Sunday as I lay prone in the damp sand behind my the tripod-mounted (legs fully splayed) Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the 1.4X III TC and the EOS-1D Mark IV. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/80 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. Central sensor/rear-focus AI Servo AF and re-compose. Lens/TC/camera body Micro-adjustment: 0.

After photographing swarms of migrant swallows with the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II and the 1.4X III TC I switched tracks and made a few images of the single birds. For the whole story story with three more images see "Another Sunday, Another Storm at Nickerson."

I should have mentioned that this is a molting juvenile Tree Swallow. Thanks a stack to Denise Ippolito who taught me a new Photoshop trick: she suggested toning down the dark BKGR lumps with a 20% Opacity (50% hardness as usual) Clone Stamp Tool. It worked like a charm.

[Sinh Nhut Nguyen]

Your images are always technically perfect, from the exposure to the BG to the HA, the only thing missing in this image is some catch light.

Nate

[gail bisson]

Hi Artie,
I love the "don't mess with me look". Great low angle and I love his little feet. Comp is good as is DOF. Nice clean FG and lovely IQ and feather detail
Gail

[Aidan Briggs]

Hey Artie! Perfect portrait here. Great exposure, eye contact, and sharpness. Maybe an even lower angle would have eliminated the the dark lumps from the BG altogether? They are barely noticeable as is.

Well done as always!

[Randy Stout]

Aidan:

It sounds like Artie would have had to been underground to get any lower for this one!

Artie-

Excellent techs, like the handling of the BG (kudos to Denise for tip). Just enough catchlight to work for me.

For some reason, I am very taken with the subtle coloration of the feet. Neat detail.

Cheers

Randy

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Artie! Perfect portrait here. Great exposure, eye contact, and sharpness. Maybe an even lower angle would have eliminated the the dark lumps from the BG altogether? They are barely noticeable as is. Well done as always!

Thanks Aidan. I could have taken the lens off of the tripod and gotten well lower by resting the lens barrel on the Leg Coat. I do that often. See you at the Morro Bay Festival & the IPT afterwards.

[Stu Bowie]

Excellent eye contact Artie, and you have pulled off an incredible low angle. Good overall exposure, and I like the different layers of feathers. Good complimentary BG too.

[Arthur Morris]

For some reason, I am very taken with the subtle coloration of the feet. Neat detail. Cheers Randy

Thanks. I used another Denise trick on the feet. Control A, Control J, control U and boosted the saturation of only the YELLOWs a lot, about 50%. Then add a hide-all mask, hit B/D and then painted in the feet. Glad that you noticed :)