Spotted Sandpiper

Gallery: AvianPosted May 24, 2010141 views16 comments

This was the only chance I've had with this species. The bird made a dash along the shore to get by and I had one acceptably sharp frame from the encounter. Unfortunately, my original capture had the bird to the far right of the frame (this guy was really moving). In PS, I added canvas and took the left part of the scene, moved it to the right, blended the transition and cropped to what is essentially a full frame image. It's all from the original, nothing added or removed,,,,,just rearranged just a bit.

50D, 500f4, 1.4x, 1/4000 sec, f5.6, ISO 400, groundpod

David
South Louisiana

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 24, 2010 at 6:33 AM

Very nice PS work David. I can't see anything that would make me think you did what you did to this image. the bird is great too, very nice exposure and tack sharp. Love the BG and the sand and shells. Nice work.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 24, 2010 at 7:15 AM

Love the low perspective and image quality - great PS work. Might be tempted to remove a little of the foreground

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on May 24, 2010 at 11:03 AM

David,

In Florida I was able to get many shots of this species in non-breeding plumage but very few with the spots like this of the birds in breeding plumage or even near breeding plumage and I must say I love how you caught the spots on this one! Great low angle, very nice PS work, love the light, details & sharpness.

I am hoping now that I am in Utah I will be able to get the spots on one of these.

A very appealing image as posted imho.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 24, 2010 at 12:27 PM

Very nice detail and setting to this. For me, I might be inclined to crop some of the out of focus foreground but a fine shot indeed. The larger image was a pleasure to view.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on May 24, 2010 at 12:57 PM

Excellent capture of the main subject David, also congrats on your super PS processing, very well done!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 24, 2010 at 3:28 PM

Sweet, love the angle and running pose

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on May 24, 2010 at 6:21 PM

You certainly took advantage of the opportunity. I like the DOF, hurrying-past-pose, low angle, and crispness of the shot. I see these birds fairly often, but haven't been able to get close to them.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on May 24, 2010 at 7:16 PM

Great action pose, detail and exposure, David. Excellent PS work, too. I would take a bit off the bottom, also. Maybe you could move it to the top?

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 24, 2010 at 7:26 PM

Love it ... all of it

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on May 24, 2010 at 9:19 PM

I agree with all the positive comments of others - this is a strong image. I keep thinking the bird is running over broken egg shells for some reason. Nicely done David.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by denise ippolito on May 24, 2010 at 9:50 PM

David, Nice low angle and details look great. Good job w/ the PS work. I love the running pose.

Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on May 25, 2010 at 1:17 AM

David, I'd kill for this image. I love everything about it. The low angle must have been painfull judging by the rocks and shells in the area but well worth the effort and discomfort. That background is perfect, the OOF foreground is fantastic, the exposure is spot on and everything from his head right down to his toes is sharp. I find that getting this low often excludes the feet in shots but you got them perfectly. There is even a catch light in the eyes. Absolutely zero nits from me on this one. Very special. I wish this was in my gallery David. WOW!

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Joe Vincent on May 25, 2010 at 5:42 AM

This is terrific David!!! Great photoshop work too - I would have never noticed.

Joe

Registered on August 16, 2005, 69 Posts, 792 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on May 25, 2010 at 5:22 PM

Great low angle and running pose. I'd be tempted to shave a bit of the bottom to make a semi pano crop.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Jude Haase on May 25, 2010 at 6:37 PM

Love the low angle of course....Fine job on the rearrangement too!!

Registered on April 3, 2006, 236 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on May 25, 2010 at 10:48 PM

Beautiful work in every way!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments