First Steps - Baby Stilt

Gallery: AvianPosted May 14, 2011305 views26 comments

The baby stilts, avocets, herons, egrets, and songbirds at Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo alto are all hatched!
THis little stilt is 2 hours old and just starting to walk around.

D300s

500mm
Subject dist: 11.9m
1/800 sec, f/8
Mode: Av
Metering: Spot
ISO: 400
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on May 14, 2011 at 9:32 PM

Very tender moment you captured Sandy. Really nice.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on May 14, 2011 at 10:49 PM

this is heartwarming. what a beautiful capture.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 15, 2011 at 12:26 AM

Such a miraculous thing that they can walk at 2 hours old! This image really shows maternal care for her young, beautiful thing. Good closeup view of the pair.

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

Comment posted by antino cervigni on May 15, 2011 at 3:13 AM

Lovely, lovely....Very nice. Best regards Antino

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

Comment posted by Kedar Bhat on May 15, 2011 at 8:31 AM

wow very nice image.

Registered on April 7, 2008, 77 Posts, 357 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 15, 2011 at 9:08 AM

Oh wow Sandy and a double WOW, what amazing action.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on May 15, 2011 at 10:46 AM

Nicely done. Good contrast between adult and chick.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 15, 2011 at 11:30 AM

Sandy,
you captured a really tender moment. Great interaction, detail in both the subjects and exposure control.

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

Comment posted by Harry Harris on May 15, 2011 at 12:28 PM

Sandy,

I love the way this image shows the how parent's legs are bent to come down to the level of the baby. Techs are spot on (as usual). What to you think about a centered composition, the right side seems to take away from the two Stilts just a tiny bit IMO.

Harry

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on May 15, 2011 at 1:10 PM

Fabulous shot Sandy, you've captured a wonderful moment and I love how mom is on her knees to get close to the chick. By the way, it's a great technical image as well, I might consider a little off the right side, but that's a minor issue. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on May 15, 2011 at 3:36 PM

tender image you captured here Sandy.

Cheers Luca

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on May 15, 2011 at 4:33 PM

Sweet photo Sandy, in more than one way.
I love how the mother is leaning in to support the baby.
One of those majical moments in nature!!
Those are some major feet for a 2hr old baby.

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 15, 2011 at 6:30 PM

This is a Awesome Photo Sandy! You captured the ultimate connection between a parent and chick, the kneeling adult says it all for me. The soft light was perfect for this situation, your techs are spot on as usual.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on May 15, 2011 at 7:05 PM

Nice interaction photo. I really like the position of the parent's legs to get to the lower height of the baby. The baby reminds me of a juvie killdeer. Nice image.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on May 15, 2011 at 7:27 PM

A charming scene Sandy. Exposure looks good, nice look at the chick and you even got some eye color in the adult. Makes me wonder how that chick got all those legs into the egg so recently. I too might consider centering the subjects a bit more.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 15, 2011 at 11:11 PM

Very cool interaction, Sandy.

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

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on May 15, 2011 at 11:32 PM

Fantastic capture of parent and young, and the interaction is great Sandy!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on May 16, 2011 at 5:56 AM

A lovely moment caught lovely shot

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 16, 2011 at 6:56 AM

Wonderfully intimate shot Sandy - well done

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 16, 2011 at 10:41 AM

What a very cute little specimen Sandy! Nice choice on your techs....one question though. On your spot metering, what did you use to set your metering? The blacks or whites of the bird? Or something else all together?

Also, those legs are HUGE for such a tiny little thing. He looks like a miniature Ostrich!

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

Comment posted by Graham Brown on May 16, 2011 at 12:21 PM

What a great range of birds you have on this reserve. This image is very descriptive, the young bird is obviously very unsteady on it's legs and you've captured a nice moment with the parent helping it out. The exposure is very good showing nice detail in the whites and the birds are sharp throughout. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on May 16, 2011 at 1:39 PM

Those are some long legs! Nice job Sandy.

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on May 16, 2011 at 5:48 PM

You certainly have the "cute factor" going for you with this!

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 16, 2011 at 8:54 PM

OMG I am sooo jealous. My camera is in the shop and I'm missin all the babies! Excellent interaction I love it.

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on May 17, 2011 at 8:47 AM

Good work! The adult seems to be reeling from the responsibility of supporting a family.

Good exposure of blacks and whites and the image is sharp throughout.

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

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on May 17, 2011 at 1:27 PM

I like how the parent has "bent down" folding its very long legs in half to get its body and warm belly feathers in reach of the chick. A capture of a sweet moment.

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments