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Long-billed Curlew
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Long-billed Curlew

by Ron Dudley

Gallery: AvianPosted April 25, 2010147 views15 comments
I don't see this species very often and when I do I usually can't get close enough so it was fun to find this relatively tolerant bird in early morning light.

I'd have preferred a little less DOF for this side view but with that long bill and the ever-changing positions of the bird I figured f/8 was the best compromise.

7D, 1/800, f/8, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 4-8-10, cropped to 48% of original image, bird selectively sharpened, very slight reduction of the background brights, no other processing, natural light

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

15 comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 25, 2010 at 6:58 PM
Lovely low angle and I like the raised foot. Held up to the crop well

- Luke
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on April 25, 2010 at 6:59 PM
Looks good to me, Ron!
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 25, 2010 at 7:28 PM
Good getting the bird mid-stride Ron - really like the setting

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Greg Cope on April 25, 2010 at 9:42 PM
Love the mid-step pose. Used to seeing these in or alongside water, so I find the surrounding habitat unique and interesting.
Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 26, 2010 at 9:16 AM
nice, Ron. I like the active pose and comp. I agree with you on the DOF but totally understand being at f/8 for any head turns with that long bill.
Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 26, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Nice, Ron. The dof works for me. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Monica Siri on April 26, 2010 at 12:41 PM
Ron,
very nice dynamic image and setting for this long-beaked bird.
Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments
Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 26, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Ron, Did you get this at Ft DeSoto? We have had one there for about a month or so now. I was fortunate enough to get some shots. Nice detail and environment.
Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 26, 2010 at 1:11 PM
I really like the walking/running pose you captured here. The pano crop works well with that long bill, cool shot Ron :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Terry Sohl on April 26, 2010 at 1:51 PM
This is great Ron, I'd love to get close to one like this on the grasslands. Had the same trouble here, in not being able to get close.

Love the raised foot, and the habitat. :toast:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 26, 2010 at 5:57 PM
Pretty nice, Ron. I like how you caught him in mid stride. :toast:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 26, 2010 at 8:19 PM
Exceptionally nice, Ron. I like the capture and crop. Fine work on a tough bird. :toast:
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on April 27, 2010 at 4:46 AM
Amazing bird and a great capture. I'd sure hate to have to wield that beak around day after day... :cool:
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 27, 2010 at 1:25 PM
Looks good to me as posted. Here in AZ I don't see them often, and then only in distant flight or deep in the ag fields.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 27, 2010 at 3:37 PM
Ron, sorry, I keep missing your posts for some reason. I like the DOF on this Ron. The BG is still soft enough not to intrude, but shows nice habitat. The bird is tack as usual from you and I like the walking/running pose. Most of all I like the great look at that long bill. Great light and perfect exposure IMO. I would love to see one of these, but never have. Very well done.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments