Marbled Godwit

Gallery: AvianPosted September 26, 2010134 views17 comments

Another photo from my S Beach, Mass. expedition. There were about ten of these MG's hanging around about 20 American Oystercatchers. It was a challenge to get just one bird in the frame, so this is cropped to about 50% FF as well as portrait from landscape. It was also hard to get a catchlight as it was a liitle past noon so the sun was high.
I had to straighten this as the bird was actually leaning to the left quite a bit, maybe from the wind or soft mud. I also added canvas at the bottom from the straightening.
Comments welcomed and appreciated and large version provided for critique.

Nikon D300 w/sigma 50-500mm @ 500
f/6.3
1/1250
iso 200
tripod mounted

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on September 26, 2010 at 7:54 PM

Great post with excellent detail. Love the one legged stance. Straightening and extra canvas look good.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 26, 2010 at 8:24 PM

Doug, I like the nice head turn. The comp is a bit tight on the left for my taste, but that is just me. I really like the feather patterns and the great color on that long bill. No catchlight is not always an issue. In this case I think would add a lot as even in the larger image I cannot make out the eye at all.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on September 26, 2010 at 8:38 PM

I like this...the pose is very nice and the marbled colors are very pretty. It's really weird there's no catchlight..it looks like it was bright enough. I vote for adding it and you've got a real nice keeper! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on September 26, 2010 at 8:57 PM

Nice godwit - I wish they were more common here in AZ.

Exposure looks good. No nimbus from post processing. I'd prefer more space around the bird as already suggested.

The bright contrasty light of mid-day didn't do you any favors here: most of us avoid this time of day unless we have overcast skies, instead shooting very early or very late in the day to get softer light. You have a better chance of getting a natural catch light when the sun is low on the horizon as well.

I think the image has too much contrast and is over saturated - backing off on both in post processing would make the godwit appear more natural.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on September 26, 2010 at 8:59 PM

I like the details in the feathers and the composition is good but the bill looks very oversaturated to me. Having looked at quite a few photos of this bird in books and online it appears the color is off on the bill.

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

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on September 26, 2010 at 9:13 PM

Thanks everyone for your input. The comp is tight, I probably should have added canvas on the right which will be easy enough to do.
Richard, I usually don't shoot during this time of the day, but was boated out to this beach, otherwise it's a 10 mile walk. And they only run from 8-5. I knew it was going to be problematic going into it, but wanted to see how I would fare.
Thank you all for your commenst and critique thus far...I've done a reprocess and desaturated by -25, and on the magenta channel -50, and lessened the contrast by -15. I also added a catchlight, which is a first for me, so let me know if it looks natural.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on September 26, 2010 at 9:47 PM

Color looks spot on in the repost.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on September 26, 2010 at 10:13 PM

The repost is much better.

When forced to shoot in such nasty mid-day light some fill flash can help mitigate the contrast. I'm not a big fan of flash in any situation (including as fill) but I'll use it if there's no other alternative.

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

Comment posted by Danny Laredo on September 27, 2010 at 6:37 AM

Love the pose and over the back look.

Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 27, 2010 at 11:00 AM

Nice detail in the plumage and excellent light for near noon. I might add back in some canvas to the right-it feels a bit crowded to me.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on September 27, 2010 at 11:53 AM

Doug,
great work on the repost and great pose of the bird. Very nice image.

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on September 27, 2010 at 4:53 PM

I agree that the repost is much better. You took the critique and did a super job!

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 27, 2010 at 11:38 PM

The repost looks quite a bit better to me Doug, the catchlight helps a lot and I like the contrast better although I think you may have overdone the reduction and something in between the 2 might be even better - but closer to your repost than the original.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on September 28, 2010 at 12:33 AM

A little bit tight on the right and bottom, but other than that I darn good photo. Love the gradation of black and pink on the beak, really sets off the marbled body. Great shorebird photo.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on September 28, 2010 at 11:44 AM

Doug,

I prefer the reposted version, the colors & saturation are much more natural. I like the pose and the water in the background.

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

Comment posted by Sally King on September 28, 2010 at 2:49 PM

I am going to swim upstream and say I love the tight crop in this instance. I think the color in the repost is better. I love the one legged stance along with that beautiful long bill as it made me laugh.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on September 29, 2010 at 5:45 PM

Like this one a lot Doug.
May

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