Marbled Godwit

Gallery: AvianPosted July 25, 2011657 views25 comments

Limosa fedoa

This was taken on the Gulf Coast of Florida, seems like the Godwit had an itch.

Nikon D200, handheld, laying on my belly at the water's edge, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, aperture priority, auto WB, 0 EV comp, natural light.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your comments and critiques on my images. Thank you for looking.

* PS just remembered I toned down one very bright specular highlight in the wave behind the bird.

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on July 25, 2011 at 2:50 PM

Mia, I like this. The Godwit is sharp, well exposed and doing a balancing act. It really stands out against the bg, which in itself is interesting, yet subdued enough as to not take away from the subject. I might consider removing a few of the larger oof light spots, the ones on the larger wave, although I like the smaller ones in the fg. They add sparkle in this case.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 25, 2011 at 2:55 PM

Thanks Wayne. Appreciate your critique. In answer to the oof light spots (specular highlights) I did tone one down and made note of the about the same time you were commenting. It was pretty bright. I tend to leave the rest of them alone because they appear in images quite often taken with waves on the water and I consider them a natural part of the image unless they are way too bright and then I try to tone them down.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 25, 2011 at 3:32 PM

Very nice as posted. Nice low angle, interesting position, great exposure, good detail.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 25, 2011 at 4:35 PM

Your classic low perspective, Mia. I love the raise leg and eye contact.

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on July 25, 2011 at 4:50 PM

Mia, I have had to check out for awhile- months-got to work! It was very pleasant to see your Godwit pop up when I logged on. As always your comp is super and I have no problem with the highlights as presented.Very nice image!

Dan

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 25, 2011 at 5:08 PM

Dan, I checked out for a long time too, work and other reasons. Good to see you here.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 25, 2011 at 6:50 PM

A lovely image Mia. Interesting and appealing pose, great light and your signature low angle for your Florida birds in particular. Very impressed that you caught the eye fully open - difficult to do in a scratching bird. Welcome back!

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on July 25, 2011 at 6:56 PM

Good to see your posts again, Mia! This is lovely!

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on July 25, 2011 at 7:35 PM

Beautiful as posted, Mia. I particularly like the "scratch pose". Interesting that the layered bg is not distracting. I think it's because it's quite dark compared to the bird. Great to see your posts again!

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on July 25, 2011 at 8:05 PM

Very nice, Mia. Is this early morning, as it appears to be low light and dark bg. The Godwit lights up well this way, and the detail is great as usual.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 25, 2011 at 8:19 PM

Wonderful low angle, love the scratch and the cool surf in the background. The details on the bird are great.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 25, 2011 at 9:13 PM

Love the pose Mia, looks like it's reaching back to do a little ear scratchin'

Sharp and detailed with very pleasing warm colors, with the gentle surf layered BG a big plus.
I especially like the light here, excellent!

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on July 25, 2011 at 10:08 PM

Have been missing your wonderful work. Love the pose here. Excellent details with lovely light on the bird. Just enough highlights in my opinion. Like the low angle.

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on July 26, 2011 at 3:06 AM

Mia you got a great angle here i like the preening attitude amd the water with its highlites ,like it!

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 26, 2011 at 4:45 AM

Lovely image quality, detail and pose Mia

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on July 26, 2011 at 8:52 PM

Very nice shot of this Godwit Mia. The like the wave action and highlights therein.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on July 26, 2011 at 10:06 PM

Sweet pose! Either an itch, or he's dancin' the jitterbug. Beautiful warm light as well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 27, 2011 at 9:02 AM

sweet pose, great light and bg, Mia. nice to see you here, I haven't been around much this summer either.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 27, 2011 at 11:02 AM

The low angle really makes this image for me as this perspective gives you a sense of actually being in the water. Wonderful pose and detail on the godwit and I like seeing the layered waves in the background, well done Mia.

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

Comment posted by Jay Levin on July 27, 2011 at 5:24 PM

Wonderful pose and light, and the background complements the bird nicely, Mia. Superb capture of the feather details.

Actually, I think the godwit is talking on its little cell phone.

Registered on April 24, 2009, 21 Posts, 184 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on July 27, 2011 at 6:45 PM

Nice to see one of yours again, Mia. Having an itch and keeping an eye on you at the same time :) We had a pretty good population of them in Gulfport last fall, and hoping to have the same this year. Thanks for posting.

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

Comment posted by Robert Holguin on July 27, 2011 at 10:12 PM

Very beautiful shot. Great pose and I really like the the background. Very good detail in the bird. Well done.