Coot

Gallery: AvianPosted October 7, 2010265 views12 comments

1D mk iv, 600mm f4, 1/5000s, f4, iso 400.

I have been trying for at least 4 years to get a semi-decent shot of a coot running, but usually end up with a grey blob or a leg or splash leaving the frame! This morning I managed to at least get one in the frame. It's not the shot I'm striving for, but it's work in progress. Maybe I'll get the one I'm after in the next 4 years..

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 7, 2010 at 1:46 PM

As usual, I love the angle and the bg in this image, Ian. Excellent detail in the coot, but I think I know what you mean about wanting a better pose. Still very cool action.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 7, 2010 at 2:30 PM

Yep, you got it finally! Well done, Ian!

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on October 7, 2010 at 3:23 PM

Great action shot, Ian. Ultra low angle, beautiful sprinkle and superb background.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on October 7, 2010 at 5:40 PM

Hi Ian,
I agree just to get one of these guys running on the water in the frame is a most difficult task. Too bad the focus locked on the back wing and left the head OOF. I've been close on thousands of images and know the frustration all to well.

Ronnie

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

Comment posted by Buck Ward on October 7, 2010 at 8:49 PM

Ronnie points out that the head is not in zone of sharpest focus. I had to go back and check to see that he is correct. Not a particularly critical shortcoming, IMO.

A terrific picture - love the low angle.

Coots used to be common here. Haven't seen one in years.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on October 7, 2010 at 9:36 PM

Great action shot. I am always drawn to your shots of coots. They are very distinct and always engaging.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on October 7, 2010 at 10:11 PM

Ronnie

Too bad the focus locked on the back wing and left the head OOF.

Very well spotted - I was acutely aware of it during processing. This is excellent critique IMO - that's the strength of this forum, and how I've learned over the years. (That's also why it's work in progress

)

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 7, 2010 at 11:05 PM

Awesome action on the coot, however it doesn't look like the focus was on the head (minor nit).

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 8, 2010 at 10:20 AM

Ian,

I know exactly how difficult it is to get an image of a coot running, they are so quick when they do that that it so hard to keep them in the viewfinder plus there are the exposure issues with coots being so dark and that white shield & bill. I like the pose you caught here with the raised wings and what appears to be a look of intense concentration. Lovely low angle, light, details and comp.

Thanks for the email yesterday, I'm still using CS3 though

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

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on October 8, 2010 at 1:06 PM

A truly excellent photo Ian, valuable in many ways, and that shows that there are no trivial subject but only trivial photographers.
Congrats.
Giorgio

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 9, 2010 at 6:03 AM

Great capture Ian - they certainly skitter across the surface.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 9, 2010 at 8:33 PM

I really like what I see Ian.
Far be it from me to suggest different settings..But it looks like at this angle you might've dropped your S-speed slightly and used a smaller aperture to get that head/beak in sharper?
Easy to say I admit..Things happen very fast out there.
You'll get the one you're after, I have no doubts about it, well done!

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