Posted by Dave Bartlett on November 22, 2011 at 4:58 PM
A black guillemot from a trip to Shetland. Shot with a sniff of fill flash to liven up a dull and foggy morning.
Dave
1DMkIV + 500m f/4 L IS + 1.4x TC
1/300sec at f/8 and ISO400
Posted by Nick Mckeown on November 22, 2011 at 5:42 PM
Fantastic detail in the plumage and the gaping mouth adds a touch of colour to the picture. A little more room either side of the bird just to give it a little more space is my only nit but cropping is very much a personal thing. Superb image. I see them regularly up here on the scottish west coast but usually bobbing about on the water.
Nick
Posted by Mike Smith on November 23, 2011 at 2:03 AM
Stunning and pretty well perfect light control.
My only suggestion would be to remove the harsh flash catchlight to leave the natural catchlight in the eye - its too central and there is enough natural light refelction in the eye to add interest.
Posted by Matt Cole on November 23, 2011 at 5:55 AM
expertly done Dave, the very subtle flash has worked well, though I'd agree with Mike about removing the catchlight. A very nice portrait and I like the open mouthed pose.
Matt
Posted by Andy Astbury on November 23, 2011 at 6:10 AM
Exceptionally well exposed and executed image Dave - perfick
Though I would agree about taking out that catch light in the eye as it tends to give them game away; which the rest of the image does not.
Posted by David Sewell on November 23, 2011 at 8:38 AM
A very nice shot Dave. Did you use any sort of fresnel lens (better beamer etc) on your flash? I posted a swan image a while back which many people advised could have used a spot of fill-in to put a catchlight in the eye but I was uncertain as to how effective a straight flash (580 or 430 speedlites) would be at the distance I was shooting.
Posted by Dave Bartlett on November 23, 2011 at 7:02 PM
No, just the straight Canon 580 flash mounted on-camera Robert.
Discussion
12 repliesDave
1DMkIV + 500m f/4 L IS + 1.4x TC
1/300sec at f/8 and ISO400
Nick
My only suggestion would be to remove the harsh flash catchlight to leave the natural catchlight in the eye - its too central and there is enough natural light refelction in the eye to add interest.
Matt
Though I would agree about taking out that catch light in the eye as it tends to give them game away; which the rest of the image does not.
David
You Brit's capture some amazing avian images.
Nice Lichen too.
Cheers
JR
Lovely capture and nice to get the pose with the beak open.
Dave