American Oystercatcher

Gallery: AvianPosted May 23, 2010171 views24 comments

Haematopus palliatus

Taken on the Gulf coast of central Florida while I lived there. The Oystercatcher was on a sandy spit. I was on my belly in a lagoon crawling up to the bird as it preened, the bird's feet were at my eye level because it was just slightly higher than I was.

D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 160, 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light. This was taken at 11:29 am, the light had gotten high which is why I used ISO 160. No EV compensation used. This is 43% of the original image, cropped to remove dark mangroves at the top of the frame that I felt competed with the bird. I have provided the larger version of this image for evaluation of details & sharpness.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your comments & critiques. Thank you for looking.

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on May 23, 2010 at 2:37 PM

A real nice photo of this bird with lovely whites and creams. The detail on the bird held up well to the large crop

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 23, 2010 at 3:12 PM

I can almnost pick these shots out of a crowd and say....yep...that's a Mia shot! That IS a compliment, a BIG compliment Mia. Very nice angle. Live the detail, the understated colors and the exposure is perfect on a bird I have never photographed, b ut imagin is very tough to expose properly with all the black and white. Nice work!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 23, 2010 at 4:57 PM

What sweet detail in the bird Mia. 43% is not too bad and the detail in the blacks is great. Overall great exposure on a tough bird to expose well. Great low view as usual. DOF is great with a nice BG. I hope that sandy spit will not soon be covered in oozing crude! Cheers.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on May 23, 2010 at 5:00 PM

The beautiful detail in the white fluffy feather of the bird matches so well to the OOF floor and background, Mia. This bird looks heavenly....standing on a cloud.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on May 23, 2010 at 6:11 PM

Great shot, Mia! Beautiful details. I love very much the very, very low angle pose

I find amazing the sharpness of the 80-400 you used, I was not so satisfied of mine, in fact I sold it!
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Kenneth Arni on May 23, 2010 at 6:49 PM

Very nice Mia, Love the detail in the lights and darks. Great BG

Registered on December 24, 2008, 112 Posts, 629 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 23, 2010 at 6:54 PM

A classic Mia shot. Gorgeous. Perfect technicals and I love that low angle.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on May 23, 2010 at 7:00 PM

This is up to your usual very high standards Mia - wonderful detail for such a crop. The red and yellow in the eye and bill really pop.

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on May 23, 2010 at 8:14 PM

This is simply wonderful Mia! A lovely bird in a dreamscape, presented superbly. I love it!

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

Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on May 23, 2010 at 8:27 PM

Hi Mia. Great POV and perfect exposure.

Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on May 23, 2010 at 9:06 PM

Wonderful low angle on the bird. The image is sharp and the exposure is on the money.

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on May 23, 2010 at 10:13 PM

I love that low angle, and the capture of the eye is just wonderful. Nice fluffed up look too.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on May 23, 2010 at 10:30 PM

Hi Mia,
These birds have the greatest eyes and bill/beak. So contrasting against the black head. I was surprised to see no exposure compensation. The light must have been perfect. Anyway, nice image of this species.
Thanks for posting,
Ronnie G.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 23, 2010 at 10:31 PM

A lovely image - the light is very soft and flatters the oystercatcher.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on May 24, 2010 at 12:28 AM

Given the time of day Mia, the lighting is beautifully controlled. The low back breaking angle is awesome Mia. I love the narrow visible plane of focus. Very sharp throughout and the whites are well done considering no EV compensation. Plumage is wonderful. Would prefer to see the feet but a very, very small nit for an outstanding image. Nicely done Mia.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Joe Vincent on May 24, 2010 at 5:47 AM

Sweet shot Mia! I love the low perspective.

Joe

Registered on August 16, 2005, 69 Posts, 792 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 24, 2010 at 7:07 AM

Lovely shot Mia - the clarity in the eye is superb

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on May 24, 2010 at 8:38 AM

Nice detail in the fluffed feathers,,,,,,,,the light must have been nice and diffused to get the whites and blacks in range with no EV. I've only seen one of these on the beaches in Louisiana.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 24, 2010 at 12:28 PM

Beautifully captured Mia.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on May 24, 2010 at 5:04 PM

Mia:

A wonderful shot of the beautiful oystercatcher. I like the low angle, perfect exposure of blacks and whites, pose, and smooth gray BG.

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

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on May 24, 2010 at 5:26 PM

Mia,
Very nice composition and techs are very strong. Great species, need one for my Life List.

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on May 24, 2010 at 10:37 PM

Very nice photo. I especially like the eye-and that crystal clear cornea revealing the underlying color.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on May 25, 2010 at 10:54 PM

Lovely work! You certainly had many nice low angle opportunities in Florida.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on May 27, 2010 at 4:45 PM

I like the ruffled pose, head-turn and whitish setting. The pin sharp catchlight really draws attention to the eye.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments