Snowy out for a Stroll

Gallery: AvianPosted August 2, 2014136 views8 comments

I often see these on the beach in Gulfport, but it's not often that I can capture one out of the water with the yellow feet fully exposed. Shot Monday late afternoon, I liked the casual, flat-footed stride and the surroundings. This one was actually wandering away from some kids on the beach nearby. Full frame, larger image included.

E-5 ZD300 F2.8 +EC-20 Wimberley I on GT2531, ISO 400 1/3200 f6.3 -2/3EV, intentionally underexposed and adjusted in CS4

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on August 2, 2014 at 1:38 PM

You caught the most impressive part of the anatomy of this guy, the feet. Well captured.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on August 2, 2014 at 1:57 PM

Nice pair of slippers! Good detail on the bird and nice background. I like the curve of the wave in the background, I think it adds a nice perspective to the comp as I think you have the image perfectly oriented. Cool shot

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 2, 2014 at 4:37 PM

Beautiful, Bill. Lovely light and I like the striding pose. An excellent angle and detail in the plumage.

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

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on August 2, 2014 at 5:28 PM

Bill,
Wonderful shot. Tack sharp. Like the pose, the water in the background and the dark sand. The whites in most of the bird have been handled well.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on August 3, 2014 at 5:46 AM

Very nice colors in this one Bill. Perhaps a slightly lower POV would make it even more attractive, but don't get me wrong: it's great as presented ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on August 4, 2014 at 8:41 PM

Nice placement of the bird in the frame Bill. Also great jb handling the techs on this. I like how the bird is isolated walking on the beach and also like the clean BG.

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

Comment posted by John Launstein on August 5, 2014 at 2:40 AM

Hi Bill! NICE one! I love these guys. We don't have them in Alberta (to my knowledge, anyway!) so whenever I see one during rare visits to FL I practically drive into the water in a frantic frenzy to get my gear into position and capture a momento and then hope for a masterpiece.

I think I literally like every single thing about this image! I'll start with the ONE thing I could come up with as an area for improvement, and that is the strong horizontal shadow of the wave in the background is pretty strong and I would label it as unfortunate. I think you could selectively reduce the contrast or do a selective curves adjustment or any number of other approaches to keep that from being quite so strong an element if you were inclined to do so.

Now for what I do like: I LOVE the contrast and tones of the sand and water. I am totally taken with the incredible colours and contrast of the Snowy's legs/feet and face/beak. The detail in the whites is AMAZING and the little curl at the bottom of his back is such a pleasing extra touch. The light is fantastic, comp perfect...and somehow the egret is almost caricature-like despite its elegance and beauty.

NICE.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on August 6, 2014 at 8:28 AM

Love the long stride! Nice work wit the whites and the detail.

Ray

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