Common Snipe

I love the excellent focus on the bird's face - what can you do about the missing foot? Perhaps a bit more of contrast with the background would be good, but I like the image the way it is anyway.

Keith: I think this looks excellent. A very different perch for a Snipe. I'm a fan of simple images with pleasing backgrounds to accentuate the subject. This does that very nicely. I like it as posted.

Wow! This is really nice. Killer background. Killer perch. Well done.

I like the pose, perch, and background. It all comes together for a fine photo.

Keith,
For me a rarely seen in the open bird, so whether the foot is included or not it does not matter at all, great shot

Clean and sharp shot keith...

Thanks a lot guys, have a real good if sometimes frustrating times trying to photograph these very skittish birds, occasionally one will sit and give a chance for a relaxed pose such as this, many more with just the tail end of departing birds.
Keith.

Lovely Keith, doesn't get much better, killer BKG, like the eye level POV, it's the way to go!

TFS
Steve

Thanks for your kind words Steve.
Keith

Your welcome Keith, it's great to see how you are developing, that D4 is certainly getting a work out & paying off. If you are doing any Birds in Flight this year let me know, I will give you some links to read, don't always believe what the manual says, it applies to the 1Dx too, LOL.

Hope the Barn owl & Kestrels are doing well and this year is even more lucrative for you.

Cheers
Steve

Nice snipe image. Interesting perch, good pose and a complimentary background. The only suggestion I have would be to move the bird slightly to the right in the frame to further decenter and give him some room to look into. Excellent as is.

I love the posturing, like a "double-take". The colors in the scene complement the bird perfectly!

Very nice image, Keith.
The missing foot does not bother me. I like this image a lot.

Thanks to you all much appreciated.

Really beautiful portrait here, Keith! I'm late to the party but had to add my voice of appreciation. Looks like you made all the right decisions in the field and in post...there's simply very little to suggest for improvement here which leaves the viewer with not much to do except soak it in and enjoy this fine image!

Gotta love that Nikkor 300mm f/2.8, eh? We usually squabble over which one of us gets to mount it on their camera when we head out (I think Jenaya may have just super-glued it to hers).

Thanks a lot John much appreciated, I did have a 500ml f4 and my 300 2.8 ,300 2.8 was the one that always came out with me.

Love the pose and the perch, excellent!

Ray

Thank you Ray.

Congratulations ! A most worthy end to your snipe hunt. I like this image as is--the BG, pose, and perch are quite choice!............Jim

Great detail and background Keith

Doesn't get much better then this, Keith, and I'm glad to see you got the Pick for it.

Thanks a lot much appreciated.
Keith.

Not sure how I missed this one the first go around. It's a beauty though.

Congrats Keith

Sorry Keith missed this one, big congrats on achieving this, cracking image well deserved.