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Red-throated Loon #2
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Red-throated Loon #2

by David Sparks

Gallery: AvianPosted October 6, 2009140 views16 comments
D300, 300mm f/4 + 1.7 tc, tripod
ISO 1000, f/6.7, 1/200 sec
This loon and about 8-10 more were on a small stream on a nature reserve on the SE coast of Iceland. The birds were very small in my viewfinder from the bank of the stream that provided optimal lighting. I found a small section of land that jutted out into the stream where the lighting would be good IF the birds swam to a particular region. I hid in the tall grass and waited. As the sun was setting, the birds swam so close to my position that I got a number of full frame shots and some, like this one, in which the bird did not fit in the frame. I would have alerted the birds to my position if I had made the movements required to remove the teleconverter.
I cropped this version to about 70% of full frame horizontally and 85% vertically for compositional purposes. Noise reduction and
sharpening using Noise Ninja. Exposure, brightness and saturation adjustments using LR and PS3.
What might appear to be a halo around the bird is not because of post-processing. It is natural lighting.
Comments and suggestions most welcome.

Comments

16 comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 6, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Really nice soft lighting, illuminating the red of the throat. Can't ask for anything better. . . Does your AF work with the 1.7 TC?
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on October 6, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Gorgeous! I've always wanted to photograph these guys! Superb :toast:
Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 7, 2009 at 12:35 AM
Beautiful close-up, David. I like the sense of alertness. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 7, 2009 at 2:44 AM
Lovely David - nice soft light and detail. It's great when the concealment works so well and happily come so close.

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 7, 2009 at 4:33 AM
Very nice David. I like the lighting and the wonderful detail in the neck feathers. Your patience paid off.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Tom Lusk on October 7, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Wow! What a beautiful close-up of a beautiful bird. :toast:

The colours and feather detail are amazing.
Registered on September 17, 2005, 312 Posts, 600 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Strand on October 7, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Wonderful portrait David, really nice feather detail and exposure :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on October 7, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Another outstanding loon shot.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 7, 2009 at 7:03 PM
David,

I like every thing about this image but I especially like viewing the larger version to see the sun setting in the bird's eye, that is just wonderful!
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on October 7, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Pretty shot love the red glow of the eye.I personally would like to see a bit more light on the neck/face... just a little.
Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments
Comment posted by Doug Backlund on October 7, 2009 at 10:14 PM
You're killing me with these great red-throated loon shots. Awesome image.
Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments
Comment posted by Guy Rogers on October 8, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Hello David.

Lovely portrait and detail with some nice light just catching the bird to help lift image.

:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:
Registered on January 16, 2007, 450 Posts, 995 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Day on October 8, 2009 at 9:42 PM
What a beautiful bird. Nice lighting and super detail in the neck feathers.
Registered on August 5, 2008, 25 Posts, 173 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 8, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Beautiful portrait David, I like how the light is really lighting up the red throat :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 9, 2009 at 5:35 AM
Wonderful pose, eye contact, plumage detail and soft light - especially evident in the larger image.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Christopher Tubbs on October 9, 2009 at 4:31 PM
I like the warm, soft light, David. It complements the colors of the bird nicely. :toast:
Registered on September 17, 2007, 25 Posts, 353 Comments