Coot with fish

Gallery: AvianPosted March 17, 2012875 views19 comments

This American Coot with a fish was at Gilbert Water Ranch on 30 Dec, when I visited with Rich Ditch and Jim Hackley--Jim posted a shot of the same bird a while back. Because of the clear view of the eye, and the sense of the bird escaping with its prey, this is a relatively rare instance where the bird going away from the viewer works for me. You?

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

f/7.1, 1/1000, ISO 400, manual exposure

Canon 7D, 500mm + 1.4x TC, lying on ground

Crop to 74% (13.4 of 18MP), a little NR, and a tiny clone job of a spot on the water.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 17, 2012 at 4:21 PM

I thought those guys were vegans!

Wonderful angle and detail. I am not at all bothered by the bird going away (most of mine are that way anyway

). This really is a super image. Learning something new is also a plus.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 17, 2012 at 4:40 PM

great light, low angle and behaviour
I do wish he was coming towards you instead of away from you though

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 17, 2012 at 5:39 PM

It works for me as presented. I'm happy to see your results from this event. Very nice detail and exposure; I like how well we can see the face of the fish.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 17, 2012 at 7:01 PM

Definitely works for me - and I didn't know coots ate fish!
Bright eye (both coot and fish) , tack-sharp, GREAT water, and the added bonus of water drops and splash.
Excellent!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 17, 2012 at 7:44 PM

I would agree, it works because of the great detailed view of both the bird and the fishes eye/head.
LP looks fab, well done Brian!

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on March 17, 2012 at 7:52 PM

Works really well for me Brian. Excellent techs-great behavioral capture, and artistically well presented.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on March 17, 2012 at 8:34 PM

The bird moving away works very well here, Brian. Sweet image with great detail in the coot and the fish. That background color compliments the coot really well. Great job.

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on March 17, 2012 at 9:48 PM

Wonderful detail, perfect exposure. The direction of the bird doesn't bother me at all.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on March 18, 2012 at 6:57 AM

Wonderful shot, works well for me just the way it is.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 18, 2012 at 9:00 AM

A great exposure Brian. Love the water color too. Bird moving a way is fine for me. Great look at the fish. Interesting behavior and I have only seen a coot with a fish once before. Did this bird eat the fish?

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

Comment posted by Dan Walters on March 18, 2012 at 5:33 PM

Great color! Love the low angle.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 18, 2012 at 11:00 PM

This image works for me as it really portrays a sense of the bird trying to get away with the fish. The IQ of the image is outstanding, with very nice detail, colors and the low perspective really adds to the image, the larger image was a pleasure to view and brought back the memory of a wonderful afternoon. Way to go Brian.

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

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on March 19, 2012 at 1:12 AM

I like it.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 19, 2012 at 11:22 AM

Brian, I love everything about this except of course that he is walking away. I still like the shot, but as a viewer I do feel a tiny bit disconnected from it because of that.

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

Comment posted by dan elster on March 20, 2012 at 10:23 AM

Not much to add. I don't mind the bird is slightly angled away from you at all and I'm quite surprised to see this bird eating a fish too.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on March 20, 2012 at 1:40 PM

Nice - amazing details ..

Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 21, 2012 at 6:06 AM

Nice one Brian - great detail and action including the splash. A slight head turn would have made it 11/10

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 21, 2012 at 8:50 PM

I agree with you Brian. The low angle and great water color are also very nice. I have never seen one of these with anything but seaweed stuff.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on March 27, 2012 at 12:58 PM

Very cool capture Brian. I have never seen a coot with a fish. I think the composition works because the bird is trying to get away from you before you take its fish.
May

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