Avian - 2nd HM

Gallery: EPA 2016Posted November 26, 201632,767 views18 comments

American Golden Plover

After successfully finding and photographing several Bristled-thighed Curlews near Nome Alaska on the Seward Peninsula, we happened upon a pair of American Golden Plovers with a nest hidden in the tundra. We quickly moved away from the nest area and sat down, hoping the plovers would return to the nest. Within a couple minutes the male returned, posed for a couple portraits, then settled back down into its nest.

Canon MKIV, 600mm, Gitzo Tripod with RRS BH-55 Ballhead; 1/4000; f8; ISO 800

All your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 26, 2016 at 7:03 PM

Lovely, Ken. I really like the open beak and you managed to catch him nicely separated from the bg.

Well done.

devil

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 26, 2016 at 9:14 PM

Beautiful bird with a perfectly-coloured BG. Great pose with him calling.
Very nice!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Gary Minish on November 26, 2016 at 9:43 PM

Excellent capture of this fine looking Plover, Ken! The exposure was perfect with all the detail in the white feathers and also in the very dark brown feathers. The eye is also very visible despite the dark surroundings. I also like the complimentary background colors. Very nice!

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on November 27, 2016 at 9:07 AM

Hello Ken,.. Great to see you're posting ! Really like this image overall and find your low profiled capture excellent. This perspective really adds to the image with the background being separated so well and very pleasing colourization with muted tones their too. I am viewing from my notebook and it generally views are somewhat darker but wondering if more detail could be available in the lower eye area, throat and belly ?

Thanks for posting and sharing!

Bill
www.Billbickle.com

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 27, 2016 at 11:24 AM

A classic pose and setting for the species. Lovely colors and nice detail and composition.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on November 27, 2016 at 1:10 PM

What a lovely setting, Ken. The colors are wonderful and the bird with the open beak is great. Techs are spot on - love this image ! Cheers, Hans

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on November 27, 2016 at 1:52 PM

This turned out very nicely. The smooth creamy background and the variegated foreground really make this plover stand out nicely. The only thing more you could wish for would be a little more light on the belly. But I suppose you can't have everything. This still looks very nice in my large monitor is a large image.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on November 27, 2016 at 2:16 PM

Wonderful pose and excellent detail, Ken. You managed the exposure really well with the blacks and whites, well timed for the open bill, and the tongue is a bonus. Nice work!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by David Bogener on November 27, 2016 at 4:46 PM

Beautiful image. Interesting foreground and a warm golden background. Nicely composed and he gave you a nice pose. Looks like this could be a difficult species to expose well.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on November 27, 2016 at 11:11 PM

Another beauty, Ken. The surrounding habitat is a great setting for this bird, and I like the pose with the open bill. devil

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 28, 2016 at 10:23 PM

Nice shot, Ken. What a handsome bird. I love the yellow speckling in the plumage.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on November 29, 2016 at 7:57 PM

Wow, the light is as good as it gets on this one, Ken. A great profile pose and super detail in the blacks. An all around great image.

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

Comment posted by Cay-Uwe Kulzer on November 30, 2016 at 10:36 AM

Ken,

in my opinion it does not get better then this devil

Registered on January 27, 2004, 494 Posts, 4021 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 3, 2016 at 5:42 PM

Congrats on the pick Ken, great lighting, detail, background and calling pose. laugh

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 6, 2016 at 2:05 PM

Congrats on the great WP!
This is really a beauty!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 11, 2016 at 7:42 PM

Thanks everyone for looking and your kind comments on this photo sad

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on December 14, 2016 at 11:13 AM

Hey Ken,
Excellent composition in all respects,
Congratulations on the WP . . . devil

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 15, 2017 at 3:04 PM

Gorgeous image - congrats on the 2016 Avian - 2nd HM award!
Sandy

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