Purple sandpiper

The area around the harbour at Broadstairs is normally reliable for turnstones and, in the bay to the north, sanderlings. No sign of the sanderlings this year, but the turnstones were there running around the feet of those eating fish and chips on the harbour benches. It was, however, a group of four purple sandpipers on one of the slipways that caught my attention.

This is probably my last posting before Christmas, so many thanks to all those who have commented on my pictures throughtout the year. A merry Christmas, and a happy new year to all.

David

Nikon D200, 600mm Nikon, 1/2500th @ f5.6, 400 iso

Lovely composition and colors David!
I do see a light "halo" and some sharpening artifacts especially around the beak/head area but nothing that can't be solved in PS.

Greetings,

Jeroen Stel

I have a brother in broadstairs-go and kick the fat git out of bed when you pass the door next time
Anyways thats a lovely image-pin sharp and beautiful colours

Dave

Great looking Sandy there David. Jeroen has already mentioned the slight niggle but it doesn't really detract from the main subject.

Rob

The lighting, the colours, the position in the frame, the catch light, the size, OOF background, are all excellent, for me you have evrything from the this image. Well done.

Lovely image David. He looks as though he has eaten well!

C.

Good one David - and all the best for the season
.
JohnR

Nice subject, comp and light David

I have to agree with Jeroen though, I can see a halo - have you used the shadow/highlight adjustment on this David?

You are right, Andy. Weather conditions were low, bright sun. To get the finished result I used shadow/highlight extensively. After some of the weather we have had recently it was a problem I was glad of!

David

Hi David,

Lovely shot subject and background

My only nit has already been covered

Hello David.

Nice shot of this Purple Sandpiper with good detail and colour.

Nit covered a very striking image David. Yet another bird I have never seen

Nice composition and great colours. A good catchlight too.

Simon

Its a lovely shot, but on my monitor the halo is really distracting, to much shadow/highlight ruins it imho.


liam

It is a really beautiful image. I'm sure you will fix the halo and you'll really appreciate this one for a long time.

Love the composition and light and the POV,very nice

Nice birds these David . Like the effect of the water on the slipway and good pose from the bird.

Major.

Nice one David... steer clear of S/H myself... much better to do it in the conversion... Looks like I will have to pop down to Broadstairs at the weekend, see if anything is about, although the tides are wrong....

A beautiful shot David - no problems on my screen., and very best wishes for Christmas and 2010.