Upland Sandpiper

Gallery: AvianPosted July 6, 20071,752 views26 comments

I find it very difficult to get a Upland Sandpiper in this area that is not on a fence post or in very deep grass. This one was taken Yesterday on a Hwy early in the morning while I was driving to another location. I stopped on the Hwy and laid on the asphalt to get a couple of shots. Lucky for me and the Sandpiper nobody ran us over.
20D, 500mm f/4.0, ISO 200, 1/50, f/4.0

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 6, 2007 at 11:30 AM

Daniel, I love this! The foreground flowers, the grass spikes in the background, the pose with the open beak - everything. I can almost see you laying on the asphalt to get the shot - an effort well rewarded. Excellent!

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Tim McIntyre on July 6, 2007 at 11:48 AM

Superb comp Daniel! The lighting ,B/G and exposure all top notch

Registered on August 19, 2006, 85 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Losin on July 6, 2007 at 12:13 PM

Hi Daniel,
Like you say, tough to see these anywhere but a fencepost. Nice work :)

Registered on September 16, 2005, 145 Posts, 3524 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on July 6, 2007 at 1:25 PM

This is a wonderful shot. You can practically hear the wolf whistle. The flowers and early morning light take it over the top.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 6, 2007 at 1:37 PM

Awesome! What a great setting for this bird. I love everything about this fine image.

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

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on July 6, 2007 at 2:21 PM

Great shot, Dan! The grass and flowers really add to the shot as does your extremely low angle. Way to take advantage when the opportunity arose...and I'm glad the traffic was light.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 6, 2007 at 2:41 PM

I love this one Daniel, great shot of a tough bird in some beautiful habitat.

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

Comment posted by Adam Grimm on July 6, 2007 at 3:33 PM

Fantastic! Nothing I would like to see different except for the blade of grass just in front of his bill. I would take out the tan seed heads next to that blade of grass as well. ...and the brighter ones just above his head are competing just a bit. Everything else is PERFECT! ...and I don't say that often. I just think opening it up a bit around his head would help to really make the birds head jump.
Truly one of the best I've ever seen on this site. ...and I'm on here all the time.
- Adam Grimm

Registered on March 2, 2007, 0 Posts, 85 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Dance on July 6, 2007 at 4:03 PM

Wow... this is really good Daniel

Registered on April 7, 2005, 65 Posts, 428 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Tomalty on July 6, 2007 at 5:29 PM

Daniel I'm not sure if I like the bird or the settig better but I don't have to chose. Great shot.
Rick T

Registered on October 11, 2006, 212 Posts, 1610 Comments

Comment posted by richard ettlinger on July 6, 2007 at 7:49 PM

Great shot! Love the comp and colors!!!

Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments

Comment posted by chris hajee on July 7, 2007 at 12:00 PM

awesome Daniel

Registered on January 18, 2005, 179 Posts, 2384 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Thompson on July 7, 2007 at 6:24 PM

Excellent image Daniel and the habitat is outstanding as well

Registered on March 15, 2005, 114 Posts, 2639 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on July 7, 2007 at 11:38 PM

You really did well to get this nice setting. I've been trying to get something like for a long time, it is tough to do with these birds.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on July 8, 2007 at 3:05 PM

Nice shot! LIke the light and all the vegetation surrounding the bird.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Wilson on July 8, 2007 at 6:19 PM

Very, very nice Daniel!

Registered on May 17, 2006, 70 Posts, 1166 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on July 9, 2007 at 10:14 AM

I must have missed this the first time around. Congratulations! What a great shot.

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on July 9, 2007 at 10:15 AM

Hi Daniel,

I like this shot a lot. I love the way the subject interacts with the foreground and background (and the fact that the background has some visual interest to it - the soft stems of grass are great)! I find shots like this so much more interesting than those with absolutely uniform single-tone backgrounds! A great EP!

Glad to hear you and the bird survived the experience - hope to see more of your work in the future.

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by David Schwaegler on July 9, 2007 at 10:16 AM

I can't imagine this being any better. Congrats on the MP.

Registered on December 4, 2003, 232 Posts, 1652 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on July 9, 2007 at 11:46 AM

Congrats on the EP, Dan!

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on July 9, 2007 at 1:16 PM

Daniel: I don't get into Avian much but this is rally nice. Wonderful detail and BG. Congrats on the EP. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by David Kjaer on July 10, 2007 at 1:36 PM

Beautiful - great setting, light and composition!

David

Registered on January 4, 2006, 128 Posts, 4170 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on July 11, 2007 at 9:50 AM

I missed this, too - congrats on the well deserved EP!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Tomalty on July 17, 2007 at 4:08 PM

Conggarst on EP Daniel. Truely a great shot.
Rick T

Registered on October 11, 2006, 212 Posts, 1610 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on July 24, 2007 at 5:15 PM

I have been away for a while and found this in the EP selections. This is a wonderful shot and worthy of the pick. I have not even be able to photograph this bird even on a fence post. Can't come up with a nit and would love to have this in my collection!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments

Comment posted by Barry R. Byrd on August 11, 2007 at 1:05 AM

Don't know how I missed this one Daniel- over the top, the shallow DOF surely adds to the soft light. Congrats on the EP

Registered on December 20, 2005, 136 Posts, 970 Comments