Female Float

Gallery: AvianPosted April 5, 201093 views8 comments

First, I'm looking for a bit of advice on whether images like these are appropriate for the avian gallery here. I know most of you are truly expert at what you do, and the photos are almost entirely very well executed close-up shots of an amazing array of species.

But I've been hanging around at this lake that has had tremendous varieties of colors the past couple weeks, w/ great light too. My problem is, that while the shots are "pretty", I cannot get close enough to get bird detail even at full 200mm (only capability right now). I believe this is a female Common Merganser, there are a number of those, mallards, geese, etc. on the pond this time of year.

So thank you for any advice and comments--perhaps these are better suited for ES&S?? Larger image posted too and will provide data.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on April 5, 2010 at 1:43 PM

I feel your pain, Bill--if you buy me a 500 mm ill buy you one

I just posted my very first avian, so im not the one to ask--but its got a bird in it, so i think its fine here or in ESS--your choice, no one's gonna complain.
This kinda reminds me of a Nessie shot

I like this, but would crop some of the left side so the bird isnt so centered. Cool shot!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on April 5, 2010 at 1:46 PM

Bill,

I like images that have birds small in the frame that are as much about habitat as the bird. If this were mine I would be tempted to crop some off of the right side, then some from the top & bottom to create a pano image. This has a lovely peaceful feeling to it.

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

Comment posted by Bill Maile on April 5, 2010 at 1:51 PM

Thanks Stan, that's a BIG help!!

I know, I have missed so many great avian opps this spring--the first time I really tried to--because of the glass. Very frustrating.

And yes Stan, it is even more Nessie-ish in that this is a duck decoy and a friend is pulling it with a long string from the LHS!! Totally kidding of course.

And thank you Mia, I did crop some and thought I had enough to get the bird out of center, but I do see it could use a bit more. And I didn't want to eliminate too much of the moody water, but... in any case, thanks for your kind words.

If anyone cares to bother, please do look at the larger image, it does help a little bit!!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on April 5, 2010 at 2:00 PM

From the larger version it appears your right on the merganser ID Bill. Every avian shot does not have to be up close and personal. I like the overall habitat included here. Have you tried cropping by maybe 50% with an eye toward cropping with the merganser to the right of center and maybe slightly above the center thus keeping the fantastic refection in the water?

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on April 5, 2010 at 6:17 PM

Thank you Craig... the hard part is I have SO many of these shots w/ beautiful water and reflections and the bird is part of the scenery, as I can't get close enough to them.

I mean, literally hundreds of images. and those Mergansers are just gorgeous.

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on April 5, 2010 at 6:26 PM

I like the shot Bill. I certianly am no expert on where to post images as I'm brand new on here, but I enjoy looking at this. I do agree with Mia that a little more crop would be interesting.

Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 6, 2010 at 12:49 AM

Hi Bill. Including some habitat as part of your composition can be a lot of fun and give esthetically pleasing results. In your photo I find that the bird is a bit too small (your original problem), I like to be able to readily identify the species being shown. If you are photographing on waterbodies a lot you might consider a canoe/kayak and maybe a 300 lens with a teleconverter, won't break the bank and hand holdable. The canon 300f4 even has image stabilization.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on April 6, 2010 at 7:50 AM

Hi Gary, you pretty much summed up why I was a bit worried about posting this here--the bird is part of the scenery, but I really don't believe it is prominent enough either. Agreed.

And I'm hopeful on a lens/camera upgrade, but not sure when that may happen. Thanks again!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments