Pile 'o Peeps

Gallery: AvianPosted May 10, 2012304 views11 comments

Olympus E-5, 300mm x 2.0TC, braced in car window
f10, 1/320, ISO1000

Hartney Bay, Prince William Sound, Alaska in spring shorebird migration. A very strong low pressure cell brought in 30-50 mph winds, sheets of rain and near-freezing temperatures. Very high tides pinned these Western Sandpipers against the shore, where they huddled in clumps to keep warm. Despite the absence of eyes, bills and very nearly all the legs, I thought it was interesting enough to photograph.

Full frame, brightened slightly (it was very low light). Usual sharpening drill.

C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on May 10, 2012 at 12:41 AM

Amazing photo, Jim. I really like the color patterns shown by the birds and most certainly it is a great behavioral photo. I'm amazed the birds let you close enough to get it. Doing the math with the 2x tc plus 2x for a 4/3 sensor gives a 1200mm equiv but you still must have been pretty close. Energy conservation was the name of the game this day.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 10, 2012 at 12:43 AM

I like this a lot Jim, nice dof and the circular pattern of the flock makes for a nice comp.

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on May 10, 2012 at 1:48 AM

Wonderful comp of feathered bods!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on May 10, 2012 at 6:49 AM

Very neat image of these birds just hunkering down waiting out the weather. I'd be tempted to shave off a little more from the top of the frame to accentuate the pattern the birds create, but the image stands strong as is.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 10, 2012 at 7:03 AM

I like the story this tells about how these birds deal with the weather challenges they are dealt on migration. Very nice DOF choice and I like the overall comp.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on May 10, 2012 at 7:38 AM

This is wonderful, great colors and composition.Love this shot.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on May 10, 2012 at 8:22 PM

Lovely, almost abstract repeating patterns make this an interesting and unique image. A good one, Jim!

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on May 10, 2012 at 9:24 PM

I love this, Jim. The pattern is so interesting. I don't miss what's not there. Cuteness factor is a 10, too.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 11, 2012 at 5:30 PM

Neat comp... I like it Jim.

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on May 13, 2012 at 12:32 AM

This is really special. Very interesting, and beautiful light and colors.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on May 13, 2012 at 1:54 PM

Definitely a "Pile of Peeps" interesting shot.
May

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