Ruff

Gallery: AvianPosted January 12, 20181,828 views7 comments

Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Gainesville, Florida, 1/8/18.

1/8/2018, 11:00:47 AM
Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EOS 7D Mark II @560mm
f/8, 1/640, ISO 800
Aperture priority, Evaluative metering

This is 58% of full frame. I did what I could think of to try to tame the water and have the image still bright enough but not too bright. I don't know whether I was successful.

Rich Ditch verified the ID for me (if I've used the correct image, that is) after several birders at Sweetwater said that this was a Ruff. This is, I believe, a real rarity in Florida at this time of year.

I want to get this image right as much as I can. I do have others I could use if there's something in particular that makes this one unworkable. This is the only one I have with any head turn toward me with the eye completely visible. I would appreciate any suggestions you have. There were two Ruffs there, and they were in different places with regard to the light. I was further away from the other one.

I would also appreciate knowing what you think is good about this image.

Please view the larger version before commenting. Thank you!

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on January 12, 2018 at 7:44 PM

This image looks good at the larger size. I think you achieved good details, sharpness, and I like the composition of the image. The only thing I would question is the contrast. It seems almost a monotone image. But, it still is a pleasing image, better I think than the ones you recently posted in the Bird Photography Forum. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 13, 2018 at 8:45 PM

Hi, John, thanks. The only thing I can tell you about the water in wetlands in Florida, and Florida is filled with wetlands, is this, from a paper on wetlands: "The color of wetland soils is usually dark brown to black due to the presence of mineral or organic matter. " So as long as I'm in Florida the color of the water in almost my images will be dark brown to black. That means every time I have an image of a brown or black duck or other bird in or on the water, it will be almost a monotone image.

In the case of this one, I do think the reeds and the white on the bird make it not so much that way.

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

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on January 13, 2018 at 8:48 PM

Hi Barb,

You may want to tweak up the brightness and contrast slightly to get that ruff ready for printing. Comp looks good and you were able to get some nice feather details in this shorebird rarity.......................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 14, 2018 at 11:01 AM

I believe I would brighten the mid-tones on the Ruff selectively. Other than that, I think you pretty much nailed it.

Rare indeed! This is primarily a Eurasian bird and only strays to these shores on rare occasions.

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on January 14, 2018 at 1:58 PM

The large image looks pretty good Barbara. With the lighting that you had, there's not much more he could do other than use a fill flash. But that is always iffy due to the possibility of scaring your subject. My approach is to try and get a few good shots without the flash then use the flash hoping that it improves the situation. It's always an issue when you use a fill flash that you might frighten the birds.

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 14, 2018 at 2:06 PM

Thanks, Jim, Phil and David.

David, I do agree with the fill flash approach (and yet I've never tried it), but I think I'd be taking my life in my hands to try to use a flash in front of all the birders that are coming from who knows where to see this bird. I was back there yesterday, not to try to see the Ruff, but just a regular Saturday trip, and it was amazing how many people were coming to try to find it. I could tell who by how much of a hurry they were in. Sadly, I don't think anyone saw it yesterday. But I'd definitely give the birders the priority in the situation of a rarity like that, and I wouldn't dare do anything that might frighten the bird, even though birders are really nice people. sad

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 14, 2018 at 5:54 PM

Hi Barbara: My internet connection is horrible today, soI can't look at the larger image. The smaller image looks good, though I think you might be able to bring the brightness of the Ruff up a bit. An amazing find! A bird that normally breeds in northern and eastern Europe showing up in Florida! If you haven't already done so, you have to look at some images of the males in breeding plumage-they're outrageous! I think they must have been the inspiration for those rather foppish French Courtiers back before they had their revolution.

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