Long-billed Dowitcher

Gallery: AvianPosted April 24, 201187 views16 comments

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ
Date: April 8, 2011
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 400, Aperture priority center-weighted meter, 1/640th, f/8, -1/3rd ev compensation
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, 95% of full frame (cropped right edge only)
Unbaited, not set up

Taken during the same session as my previous two posts (American Coot, American Avocet) from the same spot sitting in the open behind my lowered tripod.

Checking the EXIF for these recent images I was surprised to find they were all taken with the meter set to center-weighted instead of my normal matrix position. This happens to me once in a while when I rotate the camera for a vertical while holding in the AF/AE lock - the meter switch on the D200 is a concentric ring around the lock and it must get turned.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. Please view the larger version if possilbe before commenting.

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on April 24, 2011 at 2:22 PM

I love the pose on this one Richard, the larger version shows the nice detail captured. Excellent comp. too, well done!

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 24, 2011 at 4:48 PM

Great light on this bird Rich. Love the pose and the angle too. Detail in the larger version is really nice. Very well executed.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on April 24, 2011 at 5:25 PM

Rich,

I think Dowitchers are great subjects, surprised we don't see them posted more often here. Great pose & light, love that you still got a catchlight in this pose. Lovely details, sharpness and comp, techs look fine as always.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 24, 2011 at 6:01 PM

I like this a lot Richard, nice feeding pose and a good catchlight in the larger version.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on April 24, 2011 at 6:04 PM

Very nice form, Richard. I like the lines made by the downward feeding pose. Great techs and love the circular ripples.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on April 24, 2011 at 7:17 PM

Wonderful light and colors and detail.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 24, 2011 at 7:51 PM

Sorry to hear of your metering snafu, you should be using a Canon

Anyway, the center-weighted seemed to work fine here Richard, I see no problem with it..
Great details & light on the bird, well composed. No nits, well done!

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 24, 2011 at 8:23 PM

Great detail and light Richard

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 24, 2011 at 9:21 PM

Beautiful light and I like the pose. Larger version is very nice. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 25, 2011 at 12:47 AM

Beautiful lighting, and I like the feeding pose. The larger version really shows this bird off. I'm not sure what the very small spot is above the birds head (mosquito?), but I might remove it.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 25, 2011 at 1:45 PM

Excellent detail and IQ in the larger image and a good feeding pose, looks like you have a nice spot at Gilbert, well done.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 25, 2011 at 3:23 PM

Excellent! Like the angle and light.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on April 25, 2011 at 5:48 PM

Nicely done, Rich, and well framed. We don't see these down around my area.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 25, 2011 at 11:02 PM

Superb detail, Richard. The feeding behavior is great. I really like this composition with the diagonal pose of the Dowitcher. Really nice image. Not familiar with the Matrix metering on Nikons but I find center weighted metering works well for me on birds in the water.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on April 26, 2011 at 9:43 AM

Love the intimacy of this look at feeding behavior Rich. Wonderful lighting. I also enjoy the natural multiple catchlights caused by reflections off the ripples. Excellent.

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

Comment posted by antino cervigni on April 27, 2011 at 8:26 AM

Excellent shot. Regards Antino

Registered on April 17, 2010, 70 Posts, 202 Comments