Sanderling Sunrise (repost added)

I have had quite a few late nights recently so going to bed early last night meant I was wide awake at 4:30am, so I quickly got my stuff and went down to the beach. There are a lot more waders around but the light was only good for around 1 hour and this is the best I managed. I really like the soft light but would appreciate any comments.

1/500s f/5.6 ISO500 400mm frisbee 40D

Seen your work on 'Flickr' and loved it,this is a lovely image,the portrait format and lighting is brillant, you've managed to capture how well they blend into this habitat very well indeed Brillant

PS Shocked at the very low comment's V viewings

I like the layered effect here and the soft light and colours are really nice. The composition really works for me but my eyes just want the bird to be a tad more obvious as its mostly in shadow

Simon

Hi Liam,

very nice image and lighting but I agree with Simon with regard to the bird



PS Shocked at the very low comment's V viewings


Dont worry David you get used to it. I suppose there are only so many
comments you can do in a day

Hi Liam, I really like the low POV and pastel shades of the BG, but I do feel that there is too much BG. I would also try to lift the shadow areas of the bird so it's not too hide within the foreground, kind of echo part of Simon's thoughts. Look forward to more images over the next few months. I assume the frisbee is the skimmer, good isn't it?

Steve

This is a bit out of the box-I like it-the compositon and sepia tones, The large background is saved by the dark line running across it, You could lighten the bird i guess but i like it as is
Steve it could be a frisbee as i have seen them used with a beanbag
Dave

Thanks for the comments, I thought the bird size would be brought up, I decided to leave it as it is due to it being quite a crop already and I am a fan of birds in the landscape. I wanted to include the pebbles and the sky as I feel that is what makes the image more than the bird.

Saying that I have played around (crop and layer mask on bird) and come up with this:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f217/linus4/IMG_0580cm-1.jpg

I feel its a better bird image, but looses the art appeal which I am drawn towards, opinions appreciated..



Stephen, sadly not a skimmer I have made something similar which consists of an old tripod head bolted to an old frisbee

As for the comments vs viewings, someone must be abusing the refresh button Joking aside it only takes 4 comments for me to get a better image

great pose and light, the comp is interesting too

Really nice - like it a lot.

Simon

Liam - this is really nice. I had a look at your repost and lightening the bird has made a huge difference to the image. I would be inclined to darken the brightest part of middle section of the background to balace the contrast a little - then I think you have a real winner!