Ruddy Turnstone

Gallery: AvianPosted February 5, 201076 views10 comments

I caught this bird a few days ago at Sebastian Inlet State Park in Florida. I was in heaven as there were numerous species foraging on the beach just before sunset. I shot this bird at as much of a low angle as I could and was rewarded with a combination of good light and close proximity to the subject.

Canon 40D, 100-400 L/IS @ 400 mm, ISO 100, 1/200@f5.6, fill flash, tripod...

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 5, 2010 at 10:32 PM

It looks good to me Brian, imo just a little more room on top would be ideal.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 6, 2010 at 9:33 AM

I like the directional light Brian. Agree with Nate about more room on top.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on February 6, 2010 at 10:46 AM

Brian,
I like the light, the headturn and the background. I agree with Nate and Ron about more room over the head.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 6, 2010 at 11:09 AM

Brian,

I probably would not have taken this using ISO 100, I reserve that setting for brightest light of midday avian photography. Using it here dropped your shutter speed down and even a slight movement of the bird could cause motion blur. I don't see motion blur in this image, but I thought I'd mention the ISO & shutter speed combination for the future. If you had used even ISO 200 here, your shutter speed would have increased just enough to use f7.1 (without using fill flash) and that likely would have gotten the back leg and end of the tail of the turnstone in sharper focus (presuming you are using aperture priority).

All of that said

, I love your great low angle, the sweet light and in particular the setting which I have often seen this species foraging in. I like the hint of the reflection and how the bird has the one foot just slightly raised.

Agree with more space for the head compositionally, I think the image would have stronger impact with more head room.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 6, 2010 at 12:16 PM

Nice Turnstone there Brian. I concur, a bit more room on top and a touch more on the left would make it feel less cramped in the frame.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 6, 2010 at 1:54 PM

Brian, this looks good, but I do agree with the others that it could use a little more room on top and perhaps left. I like the light and pose.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 6, 2010 at 5:43 PM

Nice light and eye contact in the image Brian. Your use of flash looks good. I love the look of the habitat it is standing in. It adds a lot to this image IMO. I agree with the others about more room on top.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 6, 2010 at 5:47 PM

I like your low angle as well, and the great reflective colorful water and sand. I would personally prefer just a bit more room up top

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on February 6, 2010 at 8:57 PM

Brian:
I don't have anything constructive to add to the comments already posted. Just wanted to add that I, too, like the head turn, the lighting, and the way you captured the the area where the bird is feeding.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Shelton on February 7, 2010 at 8:14 PM

Nice pose, angle, and lighting.

Registered on October 2, 2007, 14 Posts, 1029 Comments