Pied-billed Grebe

Gallery: AvianPosted February 22, 20171,142 views11 comments

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ
Date: February 15, 2017 9:50 am
Equipment: Nikon D7200, Nikkor AF-S 300/4D ED-IF & TC14E (1.4x), G1325, RRS BH-55
Exposure: ISO 800, Aperture priority matrix metered, 1/800th @ f/8
Raw, PS CC 2017 on Mac, 73% of frame

Another recent shot from the floating boardwalk at the Water Ranch.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. If possible please view the large version before commenting.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on February 22, 2017 at 12:24 PM

Excellent detail. I like the patterns in the water and how the water color compliments the grebe. I like reflections, though I'm not sure if the double reflection of the head works-I wonder what others think.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 22, 2017 at 1:52 PM

Rich:

I like the water in the image. Has a nice feel to it. The bird is nice, but for me too tight in the frame. A nice ID shot, but doesn't do much for me from an artistic point of view.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on February 22, 2017 at 5:03 PM

I like the water in the reflection on this. The detail is good on the Grebe. I like the way the water seems to be circumferential which gives it a nice feeling.

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

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on February 22, 2017 at 5:40 PM

Nice capture you managed here. I like the fact the water and the Grebe colors compliment. A little more room, if you have it, would be my only suggestion.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on February 22, 2017 at 11:37 PM

David's comment about the circumferential water around the Grebe is true to me, also, and it gives this image a wonderful feeling. The complementary colors are great. The details on the Grebe are wonderful.

I've never seen a Grebe that looked as dry as this one looks, showing all that beautiful fluffiness. Did this Grebe dive under the water while you were watching him?

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 22, 2017 at 11:53 PM

I've never seen a Grebe that looked as dry as this one looks, showing all that beautiful fluffiness. Did this Grebe dive under the water while you were watching him?

Not that I recall. There were two of them at this spot and they just seemed to be enjoying some morning sun.

The grebes at the Water Ranch spend a lot of time above water, although I do find them actively diving and feeding under water. I've also got a couple of sequences showing them chasing rivals - they lift most of the body up out of the water with the bill pointed straight ahead like a battering ram. You can see one of those sequences on my web site.

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

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on February 23, 2017 at 10:57 AM

I also like the water a lot in this Richard. It looks like a swirling effect. Sharp detail in the Grebe and a little more room all around would be nice. The reflection does not bother me. Well done!

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 23, 2017 at 7:42 PM

Superb detail in the Grebe, Richard. This is an interesting angle on the eye-makes it look quite different from a more straight on view. Beautiful water-seems to be a lot of that posted lately.

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

Comment posted by David Bogener on February 25, 2017 at 10:42 AM

Nice detail and water color. Reflection not really working here. Can you decenter?

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 25, 2017 at 2:44 PM

Can you decenter?

Yes. But I prefer this one centered - it just has a more formal "feel" to it for me.

And for those who find this a bit tight I do have more water around the grebe on all sides. But I find including more water in the composition becomes overwhelming quickly, and this seemed the best balance when I prepared this for posting. I think that is a matter of personal choice and I could easily show more water.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on February 25, 2017 at 8:28 PM

Wow, Rich ! This is a terrific image of this little guy, along with the "watercolor" surroundings whose colors really compliment the bird. I really like how you framed to include the feet, and nice sharp results from a floating platform.

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