Godwit Shake

[Melissa Groo]

Canon 1D4
500mm +1.4x
Gitzo/Wimberley spread as low as possible

1/8000 sec
ISO 800
f/5.6

Another from my time with a marbled godwit on a Fort Myers Beach in Feb. Lying on my belly. I loved the way the water merged into the sky, and the detail in this beautiful bird's plumage as it shook down.
About a 25% crop.
I appreciate any and all comments.
Thank you for looking.

[Stuart Hill]

Hi Melissa, love everything about this. The colours, the way you've frozen the plummage and the detail in it. the tiny catchlight in the eye. And the diagonal from the left corner (the bill) to the top right corner (the tail).

regards.
Stu.

[Ryan Schain]

I really like this. Great light and sharpness, and I really like the unique angle of the bird and the ruffled feathers. I'd maybe like the see slightly more room below and left of the bird, and slightly less room to the right of the bird.

[Karl Egressy]

I love to see the ruffled feathers. The water is very calm and has nice colour. It is a great shot, Melissa.

[Dave Leroy]

I really like this one. The unique pose with all the detail and low shooting angle are right on. I agree with your comment about the water and sky merge- looks great. It is such a nice photo that I am not sure if i would take a bit from top and right or not.
I am wondering a bit about the 1/8000. Certainly froze the action.

[Marina Scarr]

Love that calm water and the graduated blue BG. The shake "pose" is awesome and you just got a catchlight in the eye. Great low angle and good angle on the bird.

I am curious as to your settings, and why you went with the F5.6 and the high speed instead of more DOF. I think you would have acquired even more details and DOF with an F8, esp with the 1.4 on your 500.

[jack williamson]

Very good in every respect. The quality of this image is top notch. The seemless blend of the water and sky is superb. F8 would have probably been perfect but this very, very good.

Jack

[gail bisson]

Hi Melissa,
This is absolutely beautiful. Is your SS of 1/8000 a typo? I think you must mean 1/800 which would explain your aperture at 5.6. I love the sky and ocean melting into one and the diagonal line created by the beak. No nits from me at all!!
Gail

[Melissa Groo]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. It's not a typo, it really was 1/8000, which was an oversight. I got to the beach at first light, and chose to shoot wide open and at a high ISO due to the low light. I got so deep into my flow i neglected to change the IS0 as the day got brighter. I agree, f8 would have been better.

[Mike Milicia]

Love the effect of the low angle ... nice job on the exposure ... great pose and excellent detail!

Given your explanation of the 1/8000, I'm guessing you were shooting in Av?
One of the many benefits of using manual exposure is that you become very aware of your settings and
have to reexamine them as the light changes. You would have never "accidentally" reached 1/8000 without
thinking about trading off some shutter speed for a lower ISO or smaller aperture.

[Melissa Groo]

Love the effect of the low angle ... nice job on the exposure ... great pose and excellent detail!

Given your explanation of the 1/8000, I'm guessing you were shooting in Av?
One of the many benefits of using manual exposure is that you become very aware of your settings and
have to reexamine them as the light changes. You would have never "accidentally" reached 1/8000 without
thinking about trading off some shutter speed for a lower ISO or smaller aperture.

Mike you are absolutely right! I am having a hard time breaking out of my comfort zone --shooting in AV. Yet another thing I mean to work on this year. Points like yours make me more resolved, thank you.

[dankearl]

That is some great work Melissa, 1/8000 was required to get the feathers that sharp.
Very well done.

[arash_hazeghi]

sweet light and details, looks like feathers caught some wind!

[Tom Rambaut]

Love the BG and the fluffy feather look. Gee you guys have nice light over there! Sharpen the head a bit?

[Robert Holguin]

Beautiful image. Lovely light, great shooting angle, excellent detail, and very nice comp.
Very well done.

[Frank Schauf]

Just fantastic, Melissa, light and position are great.

[Mark Itol]

I love the pose, light, and the wonderful background, Melissa. Sharp and well-exposed, too. As presented, I feel the bird too centered.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Really nice Melissa. I am actually surprised at the dof you got with the 5.6. I think it's perfect. Love the shake and ha. I live for that flat glassy water.

[Don Lacy]

Sweet image Melissa really like the pose and nice light

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent image Marina! I like the lighting, ruffled feathers, calm water and IQ.

[Melissa Groo]

Thanks so much to all for your comments. Jim, this is actually Melissa, not Marina! Thanks for your kind words.