Marbled Godwit

Gallery: AvianPosted September 11, 2011104 views10 comments

Today I took an inpromptu trip to the mud flats on my girlfriend's fathers boat which provided access to a secluded spit brimming with Marbled Godwits and Black Skimmers. This was my first time seeing/photographing Godwits so I was quite pleased at my ability to sneak up to these birds given I had absolutely no cover.

Nikon D300s 300 f4 + 1.7X TC HH crouched
f/9
1/1000s
ISO 500

Cropped to 53%, sharpened using smart sharpen, levels adjustment in CS5 on 27" iMac

- Luke

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Nick Palmieri on September 11, 2011 at 7:26 PM

Cool bird. Like the lower angle. Looks sharp and the exposure looks good. TFS

Registered on September 1, 2011, 35 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on September 11, 2011 at 7:32 PM

I like the about to move forward pose, the low perspective, and the nice detail. Congratulations on getting so close without cover and on your first try. I love that bird's bill.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on September 11, 2011 at 8:25 PM

Really nice image. the color are very pleasing. Excellent detail,

Ray

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

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on September 12, 2011 at 8:47 AM

Nice image Luke. Would go with a tighter crop.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on September 12, 2011 at 11:05 AM

Nice, I like the colors and the tiny waves at the bottom. I can here the water just looking at it.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 12, 2011 at 5:31 PM

These are cool birds Luke. I like the overall colors and the nice pose. Just a tad more light in the eye would have been primo, but there is enough to make this work for me.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on September 12, 2011 at 6:21 PM

Glad that you got the chance to get some images, Luke. They are loads of fun to shoot. My first experience with them was last fall on the MS coast, and I'm hoping that by October they return in the numbers we had last year. If you have the chance I'd suggest returning to that location. This species seems fairly tolerant. I usually wander around and cautiously follow them with my tripod rig, and it doesn't seem to spook them, especially if they are in flocks of half a dozen or more.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on September 12, 2011 at 9:34 PM

Nice image of a cool bird. Love that upturned beak. I think it could stand up to a larger crop and have nice details.

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on September 12, 2011 at 9:48 PM

Really nice look at this Godwit, Luke. A species I have not yet had the pleasure of photographing. I really like the colors in the water. Nice composition and nice detail. I think the small waves really add to the composition and I do not think I would crop any tighter.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 13, 2011 at 11:46 PM

Great overall setting and POV. The exposure, color, and detail/DOF looks fine.
Like your comp choice here also Luke.
Well done!

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