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Pied-Billed Grebe
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Pied-Billed Grebe

by Jerry Austin

Gallery: AvianPosted February 7, 2015100 views9 comments
This is my first posting of this species. I have noticed that there is always one or two of these guys at the lake I visit. They have always been a bit shy, but yesterday, this guy let me get fairly close. It is still a fairly large crop, but I think it held up relatively well. Processed using Lightroom 5 and Photoshop CC2014. Comments and critiques welcome.

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 200-400f4 L IS
f7.1
1/320s
ISO 100
Focal Length 461mm

Comments

9 comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 7, 2015 at 10:20 AM
Excellent image of this little bird. Great details, nice exposure - all around a winner
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on February 7, 2015 at 10:28 AM
Hey Jerry,
When I first opened your gallery with all the thumbnails I thought this image was a floating Roadrunner . . . :wink:
All kidding aside, this is an exciting image of a dull subject. Grebe's in general are very plain and uninteresting but you have managed a beautiful composition with great lighting, a wonderful pose and color pallet, outstanding detail and DOF with the water and separation from the BG nearly perfect.
A big 'Well Done' on this one . . . :toast:
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on February 7, 2015 at 11:16 AM
Generally excellent, Jerry. Nice head turn and catchlight, with good separation of the subject from the BG. For some reason, the head looks a little over-sharpened. I think this is probably a result of heavy sharpening of a slightly OOF head, rather than any artifact due to the crop. A solid image, nonetheless.
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Turner on February 7, 2015 at 11:27 AM
To call this a strange bird is spot on. Nice detail and pov :toast:
Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Gangas on February 7, 2015 at 11:37 AM
I think this image stood up well in light of the crop Jerry. Nice light and pose on a general dull looking bird-I think you did him well with such a flattering capture. :toast:
Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on February 7, 2015 at 1:51 PM
You have been busy today Jerry :biggrin: . The image is very nice and very bright. I like those water drops on the grebe's back. Definitely a grebilicious image :toast: ..................................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 9, 2015 at 1:51 AM
Nice low angle and eye contact Jerry
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Hans Overduin on February 9, 2015 at 10:56 AM
Very nice image Jerry ! The pose of the Grebe is excellent and it's colors are matching the surroundings very nicely. Beautiful shot ! :toast: , Hans
Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments
Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on February 9, 2015 at 12:48 PM
Great to nail this subject Jerry, and I like the head angle, but agree with Phil, the head looks not quite right, although the light is on it, it appears 'thin' in the depth of colour for me lacks the detail in the eye and I'm not sure why?

Sorry, don't want to sound negative, just trying to understand the possible reasons. :smile:

TFS
Steve
Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments