Chestnut Banded Plover

[Ken Watkins]

Found this tiny and very busy bird on the edge of Etosha Pan, Namibia, 26th June 2011

EOS 1D MIV

500mm F4 IS hand held through window of our vehicle

F7.1, ISO 400, 1/2500

[Ron Sprunger]

What a lovely bird, and beautifully captured. Looks like the sun was pretty high, but you managed it well. Great detail, and a pleasant soft look to it. I'll pass on what I got with my Avocet a while back: If you keep the reflection, it should probably have a little more room at the bottom. Otherwise, I'd like to see a horizontal crop (if supported by the IQ), cut just above the reflected belly and expanding both right and left, mostly right.

[Mital Patel]

Ken,

beautiful small birdie and superb exposure.
removing spots near head in reflection would be good for clean viewing.

those ripples adding value.

for crop adding some space at bottom is nice as the head almost touching the edge.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Ken, very nice bird...dont recollect seeing a photo of one before. exposure is excellent and ripples are nice as well. Shooting angle a little too high for my tastes. I guess you did not get the opportunity to come out of the car and get low.

[Arthur Morris]

Sweet bird and a nicely designed image. WHITEs look fine. Sharp. Love the orange neck collar but not the dirty bill or the crud in the water at the bottom of the frame... A horizontal made from right on the ground would have been different and possibly a lot more powerful.

Was this a vertical ORIG?

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful image. Love the pose with the reflection. Exposed well, sharp, and if you have it I agree on adding room at the bottom.
Well done.

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks for your kind comments, I have revisited the RAW and come up with this, which I think is much better as a result of your ideas

I have left the bill dirty ,but kept the reflection.

Getting on the ground is in theory a no no, we were also in deep and sticky mud.

[Ron Sprunger]

Ken, I like the RP even better. In addition to the improved comp, you've brightened the BG, giving it a lighter look more fitting for the bright light and time of day..

[Ken Watkins]

Ooops!.

[Mital Patel]

Ken,

surely you nailed on artie's suggestion for horizontal crop. indeed we are lucky to hav him around us for guidance. isnt ?

[Chris Kotze]

Lovely looking species, super detail colours and reflection. The repost works well.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Hey Ken. Nice look at this little beauty and I think I like the horizontal better but maybe a little tighter. It gives us a little more breathing room. I like the ripple too.

[anujgandhe]

lovely looking bird. super details and loved the orange collar..

[Harshad Barve]

Ken

Re-post is killer
TFS

[Arthur Morris]

I do like the repost better but only by 76,000 light years.... Wider is often the winner.

[Ken Watkins]

Art,

Thanks very much for your input

[Arthur Morris]

YAW; that's what we're here for .