American Avocet

Gallery: AvianPosted December 31, 2011673 views12 comments

Yesterday afternoon I enjoyed meeting up with fellow NPNers Rich Ditch and Jim Hackley at Gilbert Water Ranch where Rich showed us around. It's a great place to shoot if you're in the Phoenix area, with good species diversity and approachable subjects. It was also great to put some faces with names and get to meet some of the folks whose photography I enjoy here.

Lots of photos to go through after shooting yesterday, and then with Rich again this morning, but I thought I'd start with this American Avocet.

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

f/7.1, 1/2500, ISO400

Crop to 64% (11.6 of 18MP)

Canon 7D, 500mm + 1.4x, monopod

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 31, 2011 at 7:03 PM

This is spectacular Brian. Love the water color, the sharp bird, and the water drop on the bill. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 31, 2011 at 7:09 PM

I enjoyed our time out these past two days.

This is a terrific image for all the points Ron B has made. I'm glad we had a sampling of species to work with and use the light and reflected color on the water.

I hope we get a chance to do this again: either here, at the Grand Canyon, or with Jim in Tucson.

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

Comment posted by Jaymes Dempsey on December 31, 2011 at 7:14 PM

Great colors, and the detail in the larger version is wonderful. That water droplet is really nice...lovely capture!
Jaymes

Registered on June 28, 2010, 47 Posts, 590 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on December 31, 2011 at 8:24 PM

Beautiful light and water color Brian. I like the raised foot and water drop on the bill.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on December 31, 2011 at 9:12 PM

Great light and colors on this. Nothing to dislike! Very well captured. Sharon

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

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on December 31, 2011 at 9:25 PM

This is excellent Brian... I love the reflected color in the water and how the avocet pops with it as a background. Nice work!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on December 31, 2011 at 10:13 PM

Boy I am jealous, getting to shoot with Rich and Jim would be such an honor. I agree with Ron B and also I like the low POV and the exposure is right on for a winter Avocet. Great job.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 1, 2012 at 6:47 AM

Neat shot. Great water colors, nice pose and exposure, pleasing composition and the avocet is sharp. I'd love to have been there with you guys!

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

Comment posted by Suzanne Huot on January 1, 2012 at 12:35 PM

The background water colour blends in so well with the Avocets ,can even see a lttle reflection of the water on his plumage too,Lovely composition.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 32 Posts, 240 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 1, 2012 at 4:58 PM

Excellent shot Brian, wonderful composition and color contrast. Nice job handling the whites of the avocet and still showing good feather detail on the larger version. I had a great time at the Gilbert water ranch, enjoyed the entire afternoon talking about birds and photographing. It was a pleasure meeting you and Rich plus many thanks to Rich for showing us around.
Happy New Year!

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on January 1, 2012 at 7:51 PM

The detail in the larger image is really remarkable. Love the color of the water, works well with the Avocet.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on January 2, 2012 at 12:14 AM

I really like the pose, the light, the IQ and beautiful amber BG. Excellent.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments