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Angelic Skimmer

Discussion

20 replies
Posted by Dave Courtenay on May 5, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Angelic Skimmer
One from my recent Florida trip, Skimmers were one of my main targets as i didn't have any on file, I spent some time with them at one particular pool watching them bathe and then fly up and off, I got hundreds with clipped wings but this was one was OK

Nikon D3 with 600VR+1.4X
ISO 200
1/1250@F5.6 Manual mode
Small crop to bottom and sides
Posted by David Sewell on May 5, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Very different, we normally see these from sideways on, with the lower mandible in the water. It is nice to see the species presented another way, and I love the feather detail you have managed in what I guess were contrasty conditions.

David
Posted by Karen Summers on May 5, 2010 at 12:23 PM
it is different and some nice detail in the feathers,love the pose and the way he is looking down
Posted by Graham Goddard on May 5, 2010 at 1:21 PM
For me this image has a lot more than just nice feather details. Super capture Dave, lovely angle and pose.
Posted by Paul Rosser on May 5, 2010 at 2:08 PM
Wonderfull capture, hats off to you!
Paul. :wavey:
Posted by Stephen Kaluski on May 5, 2010 at 2:21 PM
Excellent capture DC with truck loads of depth and detail within the wings. That punchy cyan really lifts the image, sorry no pun intended :toast: :toast:

I am looking at the right image? LOL Seems the swop has really paid dividends Dave. :smile:

TFS
Steve :wavey:

BTW Hand held or supported?
Posted by Dave Courtenay on May 5, 2010 at 2:30 PM
Tripod Mounted Steve-cant find shreddies over here

Dave :biggrin:
Posted by Dale Sutton on May 5, 2010 at 2:32 PM
Great shot Dave just a tad rotation to the right to even it up a bit , all the same still a great shot.

Dale :toast:
Posted by Calum Dickson on May 5, 2010 at 2:45 PM
That beak looks like it is going to be the angel of death to something.Wouldn't want to get on the wrong end of that. :smile:
So much DOF for f5.6 and as has been said detail in abundance, it's a top shot.

Tripod mounted .... so no freebie quick action harness to try yet :biggrin:

:toast: :toast:
Calum
Posted by Mark Davies on May 5, 2010 at 4:33 PM
love the symetry, the depth , detail .... :toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Ian Haskell on May 5, 2010 at 5:25 PM
Really nice with good symmetry and feather detail. Good colours too make this pop.

Ian
Posted by Brett Lewis on May 5, 2010 at 7:14 PM
Not sure about this one as the bird seems so separated from the BG that it could almost be an added extra.. I like the strength of the bird and the detail you've captured. Perhaps a tad of CW rotation?

Brett :toast:
Posted by Craig Jones on May 6, 2010 at 3:29 AM
Stunning pose :wink: just stunning,saw the India Skimmer while at Ranhamblore,stunning birds with strange beaks :eek:Brilliant capture :wink: :wink: :wavey:
Posted by Richard Peters on May 6, 2010 at 4:53 AM
What a beauty!! :toast:
Posted by Bob Cox on May 6, 2010 at 5:04 AM
Top shot of the bird but I would have liked to see more canvas below the bird to give it space to dive into should it wish to do so. I guess from your caption though you were after full frame shots.

Bob.
Posted by PhilH on May 6, 2010 at 5:51 AM
Interesting and certainly different to what we normally see for this species... I like the pose but I too am thinking a little more room below and a little rotation (just to improve the symmetry)

:toast: :wavey: :toast:
Posted by Phillip Tomkinson on May 6, 2010 at 11:41 AM
Hi Dave a tip top shot.

Phil.

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :wavey:
Posted by David Kjaer on May 6, 2010 at 12:51 PM
All been said Dave - top image!

David :toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Austin Thomas on May 6, 2010 at 2:27 PM
Excellent image Dave, great details and composition.

Agree with the CW rotation suggestion.

Cheers

Austin
Posted by Guy Rogers on May 7, 2010 at 3:45 PM
Hello Dave.

Great capture and love the the front on pose.

:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:
Posted by Justin on May 8, 2010 at 4:50 AM
Love it. Loads of impact due to the head-on viewpoint. :toast: