White Ibis with Crab

Gallery: AvianPosted April 26, 2011119 views17 comments

Have been focusing on hiking, not shooting, this spring (just returned from some hiking and camping) but fortunately still have files from Florida this March to draw on. This is a White Ibis with a crab, taken at Tigertail Beach, Marco Island, FL.

Looking at my FL shots, I definitely didn't challenge myself in terms of subjects, working waders and shorebirds almost exclusively (not a single passerine shot or flight shot!) but I did get more comfortable working in manual mode after first experimenting with it in Bosque in January. On shots like this, it seems like the way to go. This was manual exposure, with no adjustment in processing (except a little shadow/highlight). I think that as long as I am in situations where I have the time to use manual, I'll do so from now on.

I appreciate your comments and critiques. Please view the larger version if possible.

Canon 7D, 500mm + 1.4x TC, monopod, sitting.

1/1000, f/11, ISO 400

Crop to 64% (11.5 of 18MP), and a tiny bit of rotation.

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 27, 2011 at 1:06 AM

Wow!

Talk about an image with impact - this is very dramatic with that white bird on the near black background. I agree that manual exposure would be the way to go with this situation.

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on April 27, 2011 at 7:18 AM

The exposure is spot on. Very nice light.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on April 27, 2011 at 8:02 AM

Really nice Brian. Beautiful light really makes that intensely bill pop against the dark background. Nice eye contact and I like the meal.

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on April 27, 2011 at 9:15 AM

In the larger version you can see how magnificently sharp and detailed and clear this image is. Just beautiful.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 27, 2011 at 9:56 AM

Beautiful light and excellent detail, Brian. I like the excellent eye contact and the prey. Don't you hump that 500 on your hikes

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

Comment posted by Peter Conway on April 27, 2011 at 12:44 PM

Great job Brian. Exposure is perfect and the photo is very dramatic. I like the lighter bands through the feathers caused by the reflections from the ripples in the water.

Peter

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 27, 2011 at 3:44 PM

Way to go Brian, excellent contrast image with good feather detail in the whites. I like the look the Ibis is giving along with seeing food in the bill. The contrast colors really make this image for me, well done. The larger image was a pleasure to view.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on April 27, 2011 at 4:41 PM

I like the details and the colors. I also like the droplets specially visible in the larger version.

Luca

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on April 27, 2011 at 8:33 PM

Great job on a difficult exposure. The detail in the face and eye is beautiful. Love the reflections on the white plumage.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on April 27, 2011 at 9:39 PM

Absolutely marvelous Brian, if your hiking is going anywhere as well as your photography you'll be signing up for Everest in no time ;^)

Seriously, real interesting to note what's possible working in manual, the detail in the white plumage alone is fantastic, very well done :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 27, 2011 at 9:51 PM

Nice light and detail with terrific exposure. Well done! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on April 28, 2011 at 4:27 AM

Excellent - the dark background works well with white bird.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 28, 2011 at 7:33 AM

I think the crab wants to get out. Great light and detail Brian

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 28, 2011 at 10:38 AM

This is excellent!

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 28, 2011 at 11:41 AM

Superb detail in this Ibis, Brian. The exposure is dead on. That dark background works great and the prey is a bonus. Great image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on April 28, 2011 at 5:16 PM

Brian,
great exposure control, excellent detail and beautiful dark background. The crab in the beak is a bonus.

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

Comment posted by Dottie Short on April 29, 2011 at 10:47 AM

Nice White Ibis image! Manual always works in this situation. Exposure and composition are excellent.

Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments