Long-billed Curlew

Gallery: AvianPosted July 3, 2011159 views16 comments

This adult would perch on the boulder for long periods of time so it could watch over a foraging juvenile just below it. Occasionally it would take a short flight to "stretch its wings" and almost immediately return to the rock.

For this image I tried pre-focusing on the top of the rock as it landed - here the bird has just touched down. These are such large birds with long necks and bills that I think I needed just a bit more DOF as the head seems just a little softer than the body to me. Probably should have been at f/8 and ISO 500.

Some won't like the bugs that have been spooked off the rock by the landing bird. But Antelope Island is simply crawling with brine flies, midges, mosquitoes and biting gnats right now (if you need convincing check out my latest blog post) and they're such an integral part of island life and of the food chain that I just couldn't see cloning them out. Interested in your opinions on that though. Thanks.

7D, 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 7/1/11, cropped to 87% of original image, very slight reduction of brightness to the perch, sharpened bird and part of perch, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not set up or baited

Larger version provided

Comments, critique appreciated

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by May Haga on July 3, 2011 at 7:37 PM

Bugs are what keeps the birds alive and they are part of the picture, so why not include them. That being said this is a wonderful capture Ron. Love the raised wings, the perch and the background.
May

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 3, 2011 at 8:04 PM

Beautiful shot, the detail under the wings is outstanding. Agree with May, I'd keep the bugs also.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 3, 2011 at 9:45 PM

Gorgeous image, Ron. Great pose. Artistically, the bugs are probably a detraction from the image, but they add a significant sense of environment, so on balance, I'd say keep them.

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

Comment posted by Mark Jenkins on July 3, 2011 at 10:00 PM

Great DOF, feather detail, pose and BG. Outstanding image, Ron.

Registered on April 20, 2008, 307 Posts, 604 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on July 3, 2011 at 10:25 PM

Really gorgeous detail on this one, Ron. Love the wing position and lighting. I find these guys tough to get close to up here. I know what you mean about the bugs this year.........can't take a photo without getting part of a swarm in it in most places.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 3, 2011 at 11:57 PM

gorgeous bird with a wonderful pose and setting, Ron. I'm ok with the flies.

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on July 4, 2011 at 1:01 AM

Beautiful, Ron. The lighting and the pose are awesome. Keep the bugs.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 4, 2011 at 2:36 AM

Love the pose here, Ron, as well as the rock and BG. I think the bugs are an integral part of this too - adds a lot of interest and "truth."
Fine work!

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 4, 2011 at 6:05 AM

Superb Ron - great detail, pose and your usual image quality

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 4, 2011 at 12:11 PM

I love it as posted. Nice colors, wonderful wing position, good setting, and the flies are a plus IMO.

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on July 4, 2011 at 5:57 PM

Ron:
Beautiful view of the curlew's plumage. Excellent techs - I can't detect the softness in the head region. I don't consider the bugs to be distractions.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 4, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Great technique, love that pose as the bird touches down Ron. I think the detail/DOF is very good through-out, don't know what you're talking about

The flies add in this case because of their sheer numbers IMO. The color and exposure's right on the money too..
Well done!

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on July 5, 2011 at 10:19 AM

There is no way that the bugs are a distraction! Nice capture!

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on July 5, 2011 at 5:43 PM

Really nice pose, Ron. I personally don't mind the bugs in the image, but wouldn't like them gnawing on me

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 5, 2011 at 6:06 PM

The detail in the wings are fantastic and the head sharpness looks good to me. Perhaps the bugs make it a little bit less beautiful but they make it a better nature photography shot and I wouldn't clone them out.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 6, 2011 at 12:12 PM

The bugs are not a problem with me, part of the ecosystem and food chain, I really like the feather detail displayed on the wing showing the various brown layers and I like the background and placement within the frame, way to go Ron, well done.

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