Boys, Dad is coming + repost

Gallery: AvianPosted May 15, 2011906 views44 comments

Last saturday I came back to the little lake in the East of France where I had found some couples of nesting grebes two weeks before.
This time no more eggs but babies and it was beautiful watching them in full activity.
In this image the chicks were leaning toward the other adult arriving with food.

40D 700mm
f8,0 1/1250
ISO 400
-0,33
tripod

Thanks for viewing.
C&C are very welcome.

Comments

44 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 15, 2011 at 11:36 AM

You can just see the babies saying - WATCH OUT FOR THOSE STICKS AHEAD MOM! :)
Wonderful image Monica, bet you had a great time of it too

Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 15, 2011 at 11:40 AM

Thanks Howard. You made me lol.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 15, 2011 at 11:41 AM

Really nice Monica. Love the tack sharpness of all the birds and how the chicks are stretching out. Nice colors too. Depending on what is up top out of frame, I might have gone with a different comp if this were mine. I would have cropped up from the bottom to the first 3 blue lines in the water and included the removed amount of canvas from the bottom up top to get more of the nice blue OOF water into the frame. But that is just a personal preference on a great image.

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

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on May 15, 2011 at 12:09 PM

Beautiful grebe family- Detail, light and composition are excellent on this one- Brava, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on May 15, 2011 at 12:30 PM

Monica, All I can say is WOW.

What a great time you must have had and you captured a great image of the behavior to remember it by. Thanks so much for posting the image. I like the image as is.

Harry

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 15, 2011 at 1:13 PM

Wonderful image, Monica - perfect exposure, perfect perspective, great colours and nice comp and BG.
I just love grebes - and the little striped babies are SO cute!

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on May 15, 2011 at 2:00 PM

Killer image, Monica. Not only we do get to enjoy the kids looking for Dad, but those sharp eyes really intensify the experience.

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

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on May 15, 2011 at 2:11 PM

Wonderful image for content, composition, and technical execution. Good comp to include the entire reflection, birds facing into frame, good use of DOF, etc. Nicely done.

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on May 15, 2011 at 2:15 PM

Nice colors in this one Monica and I like how you've captured the anxious, forward positions of the two chicks.

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

Comment posted by Butch Lama on May 15, 2011 at 2:55 PM

Super amazing details & nice DOF.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 15, 2011 at 3:13 PM

VEry nice! Charming subjects; nice detail. Good technicals all around.

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

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on May 15, 2011 at 3:27 PM

superb details and sharpness and colors. well done. I think you wanted to keep the reflection in this frame but i also think it does not add anything to this shot, indeed I think it detract centrality to the man subject. My suggestion is to crop from the bottom and, if you have, add some to the top to move the grebe in the lower third of the frame.

Cheers, luca

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on May 15, 2011 at 4:09 PM

Super image.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on May 15, 2011 at 6:23 PM

Excellent. Lots of appeal here Monica, even beyond the obvious cuteness. A well executed image.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 15, 2011 at 6:43 PM

Beautiful Photograph Monica!!! What a great moment you captured, worth a thousands words for sure.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on May 15, 2011 at 6:51 PM

The content of this image is just cute beyond. Love all the detail in every bird. Really a nice one, Monica.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on May 15, 2011 at 11:02 PM

Congrats, Monica! A really lovely image!

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 15, 2011 at 11:06 PM

Gorgeous image, Monica. Sweet light, a great angle, nice action and an incredible cute factor!

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 16, 2011 at 1:05 AM

Congrats Monica, a great image with a lot of emotional appeal with those youngsters waiting for the food. This would work well as a pano with some taken off the bottom as well.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 16, 2011 at 1:36 AM

This is really beautiful Monica, love the way the young are craning their little necks, all striped and full of enthusiasm and excitement. Excellent composition, especially like the green water below giving way to blue at the top. Top notch nature photo in all respects. You usually only see photos like this with the use of a kayak or canoe as a photo base.

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

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on May 16, 2011 at 1:45 AM

Monica I recon this is the best I have seen from you

You must have a non stop grin after this shot.It's perfect
IMHO I think as is is perfect with the reflection of the adult and I WOULDN'T CROP.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 16, 2011 at 2:29 AM

A charming shot, Monica. Made me smile. Excellent techs, a lovely capture and good habitat. The contrast between the serenity of the adult and the excitement of the kids as lunch approaches makes a wonderful contrast.

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

Comment posted by Karen Summers on May 16, 2011 at 5:55 AM

awww beautiful image

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 16, 2011 at 7:02 AM

Fantastic Monica - great family behavioural shot

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 16, 2011 at 10:52 AM

Beautiful image Monica! The colors and detail are very nice and the two little one taking a ride are awesome! Really wish I had this in my collection! One nit for me...I might be tempted to crop a bit more off the bottom (just now see others have varying opinions of this also). I think if the reflection was more prominent, I would keep this as is, but since it isn't the reflection doesn't really add much to the comp IMO.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 16, 2011 at 1:36 PM

Thanks a lot to everybody.
Here a version with more room on the top and less reflection.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 16, 2011 at 8:51 PM

Great capture Monica. I would love to see this

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on May 17, 2011 at 9:26 AM

WOW!

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

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on May 17, 2011 at 1:40 PM

This makes me wish I could take a ride on the back of a grebe.... This is a great image that really makes one wonder what the chicks are so interested in. Well done!

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 17, 2011 at 7:31 PM

Incredible Monica. Love the way the young are reaching out for food.
May

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 18, 2011 at 3:18 PM

I almost missed this one, excellent low perspective and wonderful timing to get this. I really like the pose of the two chicks, the larger image was a pleasure to view.

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

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on May 27, 2011 at 6:58 PM

Congratulations on this image being picked for a weekly challenge. I don't know how I missed it before it is delightful and so well taken. Happy for your effort here, Monica.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on May 27, 2011 at 9:25 PM

Way to go Monica, Well deserved, a great image for the EP.

Harry

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 27, 2011 at 11:07 PM

Congrats Monica

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 28, 2011 at 9:45 AM

Well done on the WP Monica. I like the repost better. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 29, 2011 at 3:39 AM

Thanks a lot.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on May 29, 2011 at 6:29 AM

nice work here Monica!! congrats...

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 29, 2011 at 8:12 PM

Exceptional image - congrats on a fine WP!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on May 30, 2011 at 1:34 PM

Really nice..congrats on the ep. Sharon

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

Comment posted by John Williams on June 2, 2011 at 8:15 PM

So good Monica! Perfection.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Herb Sennet on June 4, 2011 at 4:03 PM

Monica your wonderful image shows us once more (and see the enormous positive response): photography is all about communicating emotion.
Congrats,
Herb

Registered on September 20, 2009, 87 Posts, 106 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on June 5, 2011 at 4:27 PM

this is it!. Congrats for the WP.
Luca

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on June 9, 2011 at 9:14 AM

Congratulations monica, it's a beauty! I prefer the repost

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on December 1, 2011 at 3:02 AM

Beautiful, you really captured a special moment!

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments