Black Skimmer

Gallery: AvianPosted April 5, 2011132 views15 comments

Rynchops niger

I found this Black Skimmer on the beach on Sanibel Island. This was my first time seeing one. I had a hard time getting one separated from a group of Skimmers and Gulls. This was the best I was able to come up with.

1/1600. f5.6, ISO 200, Exp. Comp. -1/3
7D, 500mm f4L IS +1.4 tc
Full Frame

All comments and critique very appreciated.
Thank You.

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 5, 2011 at 9:47 PM

Looks great! Really nice detail, sharp colors, nice pose, and good comp.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on April 5, 2011 at 9:54 PM

You've done way better than my attempts at these birds Matt. You have a nice low angle and the detail in the white and black is very good, Nice going getting a frame filler of this skimmer.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 5, 2011 at 10:16 PM

good one, Matt. this (and Brown-headed Nuthatch) was one of the few species I *really* wanted to see in FL but missed. pose, comp and setting are all nice. full frame is even sweeter!

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

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on April 5, 2011 at 11:02 PM

Hi, Matt,

I like the fact that you got some catch light in the Black Skimmer's eye. And you have nice DOF. Might be my imagination but he does appear to be a little soft.

Cheers,

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 5, 2011 at 11:06 PM

Good angle and a great job on the exposure, Matt. I like the eye contact and the dof.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 5, 2011 at 11:28 PM

Matt,
I just love these birds. You did an outstanding job with the whites and the blacks. Very sharp with lots of detail Matt. The smaller image doesn't do the larger image justice. Nice low angle as well. Excellent Matt.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on April 6, 2011 at 4:27 AM

Nice portrait, sharp and exposure is spot-on.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on April 6, 2011 at 9:11 AM

Well done Matt. Nice job with the comp at FF, your exposure looks good and the eye is well defined with a good catch light. To my eye the bird is plenty sharp. I'd love a chance at this species one day.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 6, 2011 at 9:47 AM

Excellent in every way! Wonderful that the bird remained still long enough to compose full-frame.

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

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on April 6, 2011 at 12:11 PM

Very nice, Matt. The detail is great and super handling of the exposure. Considering this was your first opportunity to image one, you should be really happy.

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

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on April 6, 2011 at 3:30 PM

Well done Matt, you handled the lighting very well in balancing both blacks and whites and keeping detail in both. The highlight in the eye shows up much better inthe larger post and is a real plus with these guys. The comp looks good and I appreciate the low angle.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Stu Porter on April 6, 2011 at 4:30 PM

Nice shot Matt, nice low angle and the clean BG really shows that unique beak !! cheers, Stu

Registered on March 10, 2011, 8 Posts, 58 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on April 6, 2011 at 5:10 PM

Very nice image Matt. Really like the nice low angle.
May

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

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on April 7, 2011 at 2:18 AM

Nice profile and hint of catchlight in the eye. Don't know if I've ever seen a shot of one of these without water. The slight grade of the slope provides a nice break with the BG sand.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 7, 2011 at 6:05 AM

Nice low angle Matt and wonderful detail in the large image

cheers
Rob

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