Anhinga on Ahinga

Gallery: AvianPosted March 6, 2011120 views9 comments

I shot the image of this Anhinga preening, where else, on the Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park last February. I would appreciate any and all comments especially on the composition. I should have had a smaller f stop, but I shot a landscape and forgot to reset my f stop. My bad.

Canon 30D
Sigma 17-70
Aperture Priority
Shutter 1/180
Aperture f16
ISO 400
190mm
-1/2 Exposure comp.
Full Frame
Darkened the background just a little

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on March 6, 2011 at 2:29 PM

I think it works for a close-up. You cut it close on the top but it's probably for the best. With the f stop that you used I think the background would have been distracting if you would have included more of it. If you would have made the BG more OOF then I feel it may have been better with a little more room at the top. In any case, this looks like a very challenging exposure. I like the pose and the sharpness is excellent.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on March 6, 2011 at 4:26 PM

Very nice shot and pose by the bird. Nice behavioral study. In addition to preening the Anhinga is drying it's wings. Looking at the color and detail in the wings, I noticed detail in the blacks which is missing in the whites. Could you recover some of that by dialing back the whites? Maybe lost but worth a try. Never realized how interesting the color patterns are on this bird.

Peter

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 6, 2011 at 6:09 PM

A nice opportunity to get this close. In terms of composition I'd probably have backed off a bit, or perhaps have gone with a vertical featuring the head and the bird's left wing.

I'd like to see more texture/detail in the dark feathers on the back - they occupy a major part of the frame. To do thaty and hold detail in the whites in this light you probably needed fill flash.

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

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on March 6, 2011 at 6:19 PM

Very unusual and pleasing pose. Do wish there was a little more room on top. You did an admirable job with some harsh lighting.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on March 6, 2011 at 6:39 PM

Really interesting colors and patterns here Richard. A very difficult exposure but not sure how you could have done better in this light.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 6, 2011 at 7:17 PM

The black and white on the wings is very striking. Always nice to catch the subject "doing" something, as in grooming this situation.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on March 6, 2011 at 7:41 PM

What a striking image. The white on black is a real eye grabber and it is special to catch some action. Maybe it's the drama of the white and black, but it seems a bit over sharpened on my monitor.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on March 6, 2011 at 8:45 PM

Unusual and interesting composition. Very dramatic. the whites seem a little hot but the overall image is excellent

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on March 7, 2011 at 2:57 AM

Great portrait, Richard. The contrast in this image is really very strong, may too much, but the risult is very impressive !
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments