White-capped Dipper

Gallery: AvianPosted February 14, 2015179 views8 comments

While I was out looking for the Torrent Ducks I came across another cool bird. These guys, like the Torrents, make their living on the very fast moving rivers and streams of the Andean highlands. This bird stayed still long enough to allowed me to experiment with a slower shutter speed to create a more fluid looking water stream. Not certain how well that worked, but I think the image offers a fairly good sense of habitat.

Papallacta River, Guango Ecuador

D810
500mm f/4
1/80s @ f/5.6
ISO 500
Matrix
-1/3 EV
Gitzo w/ Wimberley II

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 14, 2015 at 4:50 PM

This is great - the bird looks like a warbler you would see here int he states on migration. I like the movement in the water - enough to show the action without it being an unnatural blur. Incredible how these birds survive.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 14, 2015 at 6:42 PM

Pretty cool environmental shot of this little guy. Certainly tells a nice story.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on February 14, 2015 at 9:42 PM

Classy image! Your selection of shutter speed worked well IMHO. The dipper stands out nicely. Well taken. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on February 15, 2015 at 9:21 AM

These settings worked very well to convey the waters movement/energy Charles.
Neat environmental image that's perfect for the 'WC Dipper"..
Well done!

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on February 15, 2015 at 9:56 AM

Hi Chuck, cracking image, good call on comp and having the subject small in frame. Having a slow SS has help retain a nice effect in the water. Nice detail in the blacks of the subject/plumage, nicely processed.

TFS
Steve

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 16, 2015 at 5:20 PM

Wonderful shot Chuck, well thought out with the slow shutter speed and executed.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 17, 2015 at 2:54 AM

Whoa - great shot and setting Chuck

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on February 18, 2015 at 9:39 PM

Excellent composition, rushing water is great. Really captured this well.

Ray

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