Pied-billed Grebe

Gallery: AvianPosted August 11, 2010142 views18 comments

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ
Date: August 1, 2010
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 400, Aperture priority matrix metered, 1/160th @ f/5.6

Raw, PSCS3 on Mac G4, 81% of frame. A couple distracting feathers removed from water surface via clonig; noise reduction applied to water

Still not much in subjects around Phoenix, and still hot (about 65 days at 100 or higher, 17 days at 110 or higher this year so far). But finding this juvie PBG 10 days ago and being able to get close enough for photos was nice. Same session and pond as my previous Mallard post.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. If possible please view the large version before commenting.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on August 11, 2010 at 5:56 PM

A fine shot, Richard. Excellent low angle and head turn. I like your choice of DOF.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on August 11, 2010 at 6:58 PM

I'd love to capture a shot like this of a Pied-billed grebe, kudos on the unique image

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on August 11, 2010 at 7:11 PM

Hi Richard,
Couldn't find any nits on this one. Love the low contrast, my favorite light. Great wing spread and head turn.
Thanks for posting,
Ronnie G.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on August 11, 2010 at 7:13 PM

Hi Richard, I love the pose on this young bird. Great detail as usual.

Is there a processing artifact above the birds right wingtip? The change in the quality of the water surface there draws my eye, but perhaps that is just the way it was.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 11, 2010 at 8:18 PM

Richard

I adore Pied-billed Grebes, they are fiesty, funny, strike the most fascinating poses and I find their subtle coloring very appealing. This is a great photo with your usual fine techs, comp and colors and I'd be happy to have it in my files.

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

Comment posted by denise ippolito on August 11, 2010 at 8:48 PM

Richard, I like this one a lot. Nice pose and lovely water color.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on August 11, 2010 at 8:55 PM

I like your choice of DOF.

Little real choice here. Low light from stormy sky and a reluctance to go beyond ISO 400 on my D200, so I was at wide open to get the highest shutter speed I could for this active subject. If possible I'd have been at f/8 and 1/320th second here for more margin while shooting.

Love the low contrast, my favorite light.

I'd shoot in this light more often if it wasn't so unrelentingly sunny here. The sun climbs rapidly, and the low humidity means there's very little diffusion.

Is there a processing artifact above the birds right wingtip?

I'll have to check the .psd file (not on my laptop as I type this) and see if I introduced this. But it might be something in the air between the camera and subject (like the spot in front of the bill on the mallard from the same day).

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 11, 2010 at 10:49 PM

I love the lifted wings and head turn, Richard. The eye is what really gets me though. I never realized they had that odd bulls-eye ring. Excellent techs as usual. Since the reflection is rather weak, I'm not sure I'd have gone with this composition, but it works.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on August 12, 2010 at 5:18 AM

The soft color and pose of this youngster are really nice, Richard.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on August 12, 2010 at 8:38 AM

sweet pose, Rich. love the plumage on this "pied-faced" grebe, too. I also noticed the change in bg texture near the wingtip. I certainly agree with your comments about AZ light--I often feel like if it wasn't for harsh light, I wouldn't have any light at all!

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on August 12, 2010 at 12:21 PM

Richard,
I like the angle, color, head turn and pose a lot in this image. Another very fine image!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on August 12, 2010 at 5:10 PM

Lovely capture Rich. I love the head turn, the low angle capture, and the gorgeous BG.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on August 12, 2010 at 9:15 PM

My favorite pose from what I think is an under appreciated species Rich. They often hold this pose for long enough to get the wings sharp even at relatively slow shutter speeds and you took full advantage. Typically I don't get this great head turn to go with it though. Nice low angle too (I can envision you at Gilbert, sitting on the point of your butt, knees up, tripod legs spread, getting this shot at this angle).

Very well done!

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on August 12, 2010 at 9:57 PM

Nice one Richard - I can relate to your temperatures, although possibly not for as long a period. Really like this - the detail, raised wings and hint of a reflection.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 13, 2010 at 12:10 AM

Sweet, the raised wings and nice green bg make this one a beauty Richard

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on September 6, 2010 at 5:01 PM

I really like this-especailly the detail in the eye and low angle.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 6, 2011 at 8:57 AM

This looks very nice Richard, love the wings up pose & head-on POV.
Nice head turn also. I was never able to get this close when I shot this bird, very elusive..at least for me.
Very well done

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 7, 2011 at 3:27 AM

Interesting raised wing pose and good head turn. Excellent detail too.

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