Willet-plain on the outside but beautiful on the inside!

[gail bisson]

Image taken on north shore beach in Mass during MiKe Milicia's workshop. It was excellent and we got lots of teaching from Mike.I got to meet Melissa (Groo) who is great and Rajan Desai who was also very nice. We had lots of laughs and learned a lot.
This willet was standing quietly on the beach and while we were photographing him another willet landed to the right of us and prompted this showy response. I have several frames in which the willet is looking towards me so better HA but then the right side of his face was in shadow so I chose this one to post.
Canon 1D MKIV
F 500mm
SS 1/3200
ISO 400 f 6.3
Cropped by 30% all around ( I had forgotten my 1.4X that AM aaargg....)
Comments and critiques always learned from and appreciated with thanks,
Gail

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Excellent image, Gail. Killer pose, low angle, bg and exposure.
I'd just add a tad more below and remove that much from above if possible.
I'd have asked for a bit of head turn - but you get a discount for capturing this great pose :)

[dankearl]

It doesn't get much better. Great crop, pose and BG. The room at the bottom is just right!

[Melissa Groo]

Excellent, Gail! This was such a stunner, this willet, and he gave us some great poses. I really like your comp, the image quality and the exposure. I could see a sliver more room on the bottom as an alternate option, but this works well too.
We sure had a super weekend on the north shore of MA. It was wonderful to meet you and Mike Milicia put on a most excellent workshop, with both stellar classroom instruction and practice in the field.
Can't wait to see more from you from this trip!!! (e.g., mama plover as spider!)

[Ofer Levy]

I love this! Great funny pose and a fantastic low angle!

[Robert vanMierop]

As a huge Willet fan, if there is such a thing, I really appreciate the exposure and the pose in this image. Awesome light and bg too.

[Grace Scalzo]

Typical willet pose and attitude, but the tippy toe pose sets this one apart. Sure do wish for a better head angle, but he clearly wasn't interested in you at this moment.

[jack williamson]

Very good IQ, great threatening pose and a fine BG.

Jack

[Charles Daigle]

Really, really like this one. I can't nit at much at all!

Congrats on this one. Sweet :-)

[christopher galeski]

Great image,magic light,good detail and pose.well done.

[Robert Holguin]

Wow!!! Excellent image. Love the wing position and walking pose. Great comp and real nice background. Very well done.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Wow I love this one Gail, great pose and light, I like the composition too, and that little tongue poking out is the icing on the cake, one to be proud of!!!

[rajandesai]

Gail - Excellent. Love that low angle, beautiful background and super pose - almost like he is singing and dancing for you...
This willet did put up some show for us. You have done very well to capture that moment.

It was nice meeting you Gail. Looking forward to more...

[Humberto Ramos]

Gail,

Nothing else to say, Everything was said, congrats great image.

[Bill Dix]

Love it when these guys open their wings. You caught him beautifully. The silky BG is masterful, and I love the walking pose which more than compensates for the HA. Nicely done.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gail, great low angle, and very well timed to get the open beak, visible tongue, and swept back wing position. Sharp too. Im fine with the HA due to your explaination, and agree, a little more room on the bottom wont harm this. Killer BG.

[rajojomanik]

Wow Gail that is one beautiful image, it has everything going for it... from the wing span to the tip toeing posture. And a killer backgroung to boot.

[arash_hazeghi]

this is very sweet Gail, lovely dynamic pose and excellent details!

[Frank Schauf]

Perfect in every way, Gail.

[Rachel Hollander]

Gail - just a beautiful image. Well done!

TFS,
Rachel