Western Sandpiper (+Square Crop)

Gallery: AvianPosted September 3, 2010696 views47 comments

At the end of the Tattler jetty, often at high tide at this time of the year, Sandpipers, Dunlins and Sanderlings rest. At times, the whole flock take off and return soon after. This is a crop from a "series" capture of them in flight and preparing to land again.

I've done a single close crop of this isolated bird (first time that's happened as they are usually intertwined in the photo), but thought this version also has merit. Of course, it's against all 'rules' with the centred subject! At first, I had even had it in a square crop. I look forward to your comments, and thank you for looking.

1D MkIV, 300mm f2.8 + 1.4X, 1/4000 @ f5.6, ISO800, Handheld, morning light.

Comments

47 comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on September 3, 2010 at 1:08 AM

Great composition, KC. I like it very much.

Mauro

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on September 3, 2010 at 1:15 AM

This is very beautiful, incredibly artistic.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on September 3, 2010 at 1:23 AM

Works for me KC. It's a ripper mate. A ripper indeed. Square is perfect.

Registered on April 24, 2004, 25 Posts, 510 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Ross on September 3, 2010 at 3:52 AM

Excellent KC, great to get the one bird isolated, I'm thinking your square crop or perhaps a vertical 4x5 with a crop from the top enhance the vignette look of the shot, the sandpiper is very nicely rendered.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on September 3, 2010 at 7:38 AM

A terrific frame, very well captured !
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on September 3, 2010 at 8:15 AM

WOW! this is really awesome. The isolation (and sharpness) of the subject within the flock and the way they surround him is so cool. this comp works fine for me, I think that the centered subject is definitely called for, regardless of what shape you make the comp. I really love this shot, KC. (and can't begin to imagine how many flock shots it took to get this one.)

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

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on September 3, 2010 at 9:37 AM

"it's against all 'rules' with the centered subject!." - Ha! to heck with the "rules"! this rocks! I love how the flock frames out the subject so nicely. Excellent sharpness and exposure. Very well done.

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on September 3, 2010 at 9:43 AM

KC,
What a terrific capture. Perfectly framed. Great sharpness on the center bird and I really like that all the other birds are OOF. Beautiful Shot!!!

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

Comment posted by Peter Conway on September 3, 2010 at 10:10 AM

I love it KC. It would make a cool print.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on September 3, 2010 at 10:45 AM

I think the composition works great. You've got a fantastic capture here.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 3, 2010 at 11:02 AM

Nothing to say but, sweet!

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on September 3, 2010 at 11:18 AM

The sharp, crisp focus on the center bird is what makes the image imo. Good one.
Its the image that counts, not the rules.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on September 3, 2010 at 11:19 AM

The framing and sharpness of the single bird make this. I love it! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on September 3, 2010 at 11:44 AM

Very interesting comp. Works well, great job KC.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 3, 2010 at 12:42 PM

Beautiful, Kwan. A wonderful flock image. It really conveys the sense of "crowd".

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

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on September 3, 2010 at 12:50 PM

Rules are made to be broken and here's a terrific example. Love the sharply focused bird and the oof framing by the others. I definitely prefer this comp what I think the square crop would give you.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on September 3, 2010 at 1:22 PM

Thanks for your feedback everyone! I have a square frame that had a Hasselblad B/W photo in it that I decided to retire, so I've replaced it with a 10" x 10" print. Here's the square crop I decided on.

Cheers,

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

Comment posted by May Haga on September 3, 2010 at 2:14 PM

Kwan, I love this shot. I know how the sandpipers will fly up, whirl around and return. This is so representative of what you see when this happens. Amazing shot.
May

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on September 3, 2010 at 4:10 PM

KC,

I like both comps and love how the sandpiper is framed by the other birds. Nicely seen and well done.

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

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on September 3, 2010 at 4:35 PM

This is brilliant, I love the way the main bird is framed by the others, with just the right amount of space around it.

Well captured.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on September 3, 2010 at 5:28 PM

Very cool shot Kwan

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on September 3, 2010 at 5:51 PM

I think this is one of your best posts, Kwan. I think that flocks of birds are entities, just like the individual members, and this shot, as well as any I have seen posted here, captures the sense of the flock and the entity in an individual shot. For those reasons, I prefer the first post, but I'd be delighted to have either in my portfolio. A truly wonderful job.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by David Buck on September 3, 2010 at 5:53 PM

Awesome shot. I like the above crop better than the square.

Registered on October 31, 2007, 62 Posts, 97 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on September 3, 2010 at 7:51 PM

Fantastic KC - love the way the oof birds frame the central one

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 3, 2010 at 8:45 PM

Different and very cool Kwan. This gives you the feeling of a flock flying towards you with the bonus of the center bird isolated. I think I prefer the square crop.

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

Comment posted by Hali Sowle on September 3, 2010 at 10:19 PM

This is really a great composition KC, the bird being centered doesn't detract at all, it's one of those "rule-breaker" images, the fact that it is so sharp and has the room around it makes it work so well.

Registered on January 9, 2008, 36 Posts, 582 Comments

Comment posted by John Wiker on September 4, 2010 at 12:57 AM

Outstanding KC, a very in the moment shot.

Registered on August 7, 2007, 24 Posts, 37 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on September 4, 2010 at 9:03 AM

Very nice KC!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on September 4, 2010 at 10:14 AM

Just wonderful Kwan!

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

Comment posted by Axel Hildebrandt on September 4, 2010 at 12:07 PM

Cool pose and I like the original composition.

Registered on October 16, 2006, 66 Posts, 441 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Bartsch on September 4, 2010 at 2:01 PM

Wow... that's exactly what I said when I saw this. Amazing capture here KC. Thanks for sharing!

Registered on December 1, 2003, 80 Posts, 354 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on September 4, 2010 at 5:58 PM

Excellent - the surrounding birds make a wonderful natural vignette effect. Square crop works well.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on September 5, 2010 at 8:18 AM

KC,
I like this image a lot. Very cool shot.

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

Comment posted by Butch Lama on September 5, 2010 at 12:05 PM

What a great composition & awesome framing of sandpiper.

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on September 5, 2010 at 12:32 PM

Hi Kwan,
I really like this one. One of your best IMO, and that's saying a lot as your best is better than most. I like the way the solitary bird is framed by his cohorts and seems to be looking right at you too. Superb!

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Colin Smale on September 6, 2010 at 3:47 AM

Heck you can't plan for a shot like this but if you could I would take this happily. Lady luck smiles on us sometimes. Beautiful comp but I still can't make up my mind about crop, I think I am just about for the original crop.

Registered on November 10, 2003, 48 Posts, 1158 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Taylor on September 7, 2010 at 12:00 PM

I love this shot. I lve the composition and the DoF. I also like the way you have singled out just that one bird. Well timed and well caught too
Matt

Registered on July 31, 2010, 5 Posts, 91 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on September 7, 2010 at 4:05 PM

Congratulations KC! Well deserved.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on September 7, 2010 at 8:11 PM

Killer photo Kwan!!! Congrats on the EP

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 7, 2010 at 10:36 PM

Excellent shot and processing!

Congrats on the EP!

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on September 7, 2010 at 10:46 PM

This is lovely. I really like the way the OOF birds bring attention to the star. This centered one works great.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 8, 2010 at 11:41 PM

Congrats Kwan

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

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on September 11, 2010 at 4:00 AM

Wow, wicked shot KC. Amazing how well the out of focus birds frame the image. Very cool.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on September 13, 2010 at 8:53 PM

Level of difficulty= 10..results= 10!! Congrats on the very well deserved EP!!

Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on September 15, 2010 at 2:28 AM

Just proves that sometimes centering is just fine! Very excellent crafting into this fine image. Congrats on the EP!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Barry R. Byrd on September 29, 2010 at 10:29 PM

Well done KC, love the framing by focus and placement

Registered on December 20, 2005, 136 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on October 13, 2010 at 5:51 PM

Awesome. The outlying out-of-focus birds make the shot for me. Nicely captured.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments