Wilson's Phalarope in Flowers


Posted by Greg Downing on Tue Sep 09, 2003 12:48 pm

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Wilson’s Phalarope, Oak Hammock Marsh, Winnipeg, MB

This was taken last year while I was visiting a friend in the Winnipeg area and after returning from Churchill. On the way to visit our friend, Juli Wilcox and I stopped by Oak Hammock for the first time on this overcast day and immediately noticed this breeding plumage female feeding on bugs among the flowers. I used the visitor’s center sign as a blind to sneak up on the bird. Once there for a moment I was able to slowly move away from the sign. Staying low with my tripod placed in front of me, I worked my way closer without disturbance to the bird's activity. When I was finished I retreated in the same manner and left the bird undisturbed as it continued to go about feeding.

Since it was cloudy bright I needed flash to bring the colors up and provide a catchlight.

EOS 1D, EF 600/4 IS, 1.4TC, 1/400 @ F 7.1, ISO 320, fill at -1.3, one distracting bright yellow flower was cloned from the upper left.
Greg Downing
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Last edited by Greg Downing on Tue Sep 09, 2003 7:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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by Juan E. Bahamon on Tue Sep 09, 2003 1:08 pm
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Greg:

Gorgeous breeding colors. Good stalking technique.
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by Mike Danzenbaker on Tue Sep 09, 2003 1:30 pm
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Greg, one of my favorite shots of yours (that I've seen, anyhow); no crits, but a couple of comments. The bird appears to be a female (the brighter of the sexes for phalaropes as you know). I'm surprised to hear that you used flash; I'd have expected to see some sign of it even at -1.3, but the eye feature appears natural, not the pinpoint we usually see from flash. Unless you were using a softbox or something, which seems unlikely under the circumstances you describe. Regardless, it's a treat to see this bird so well rendered.
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by Greg Downing on Tue Sep 09, 2003 2:19 pm
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Mike, oops on the sex. I knew that and wrote it wrong DUH!!
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by Harvey Edelman on Tue Sep 09, 2003 2:33 pm
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Nice :lol:
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by Sandy Mossberg on Tue Sep 09, 2003 4:30 pm
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Lovely shot, Greg. Perhaps the BG could be a bit darker.
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by Anthony Medici on Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:09 pm
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I like the flowers! You don't usually have flowers in your images, only great looking birds. This still have a great looking bird but I like the extras. Nice change of pace.
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by Alan Melle on Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:33 pm
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Very nice image of a beautiful bird. Excellent technique.
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by Alan Murphy on Tue Sep 09, 2003 7:15 pm
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Greg,

This is an incredible photo. Just the fact she's not in water and on land is something. and what land, those flowers are awesome.

I cannot see anything that is overexposed, but it still looks overall light to me. Was the field really this light?
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by Laura Stiefel on Tue Sep 09, 2003 7:33 pm
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Hi Greg. This is a beautiful bird. The various shades of reddish brown are striking and I love your choice of positioning the bird in the frame. If others, more experienced than I, had not already mentioned it I might not say that I also think the background appears a bit light. It might just be a personal taste thing but I think a somewhat darker background would really complement the overall lovely tones of the bird.
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by Bruce DiVaccaro on Tue Sep 09, 2003 7:40 pm
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Greg,

Beautiful shot. I think the flowers add quite a bit to the image. It's nice to see one not on the water just for something different.
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by Bruce Sherman on Tue Sep 09, 2003 9:04 pm
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Greg,
Outstanding! This is about the only phalarope I have seen that is not swimming in circles.
 

by Greg Downing on Tue Sep 09, 2003 9:32 pm
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Thanks for the comments. As for the image being light it's probably because I have a new monitor which seems a bit dark since it hasn't been calibrated yet. :roll: Sorry about that.
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by Jim Probst on Tue Sep 09, 2003 11:43 pm
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Greg,

Very attractive composition with nice rich color! Excellent!
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by Heather Forcier on Wed Sep 10, 2003 12:18 am
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A beautiful shot, I have always liked the flowers and surrounding greenery a great deal. :)
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by Juli Wilcox on Wed Sep 10, 2003 1:21 am
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Photographer with Phalarope, Oak Hammock Marsh, Manitoba, Canada

There were little, tiny wildflowers with a hatch of gnats that were driving this feeding bird. She was oblivious to us, that's for sure. :)
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by Rich S on Wed Sep 10, 2003 6:58 am
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Like this one a lot - and Julie's post putting it in context. Best part for me is that I wouldn't have guessed you used flash. Flowers and lightness throughout suggest a very feminine pose.

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by Carol Clarke on Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:23 am
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Beautiful shot, lovely detail in the plumage and gorgeous delicate colours.

8)
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by Jim Zipp on Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:43 am
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Nice shot Greg,
Almost missed this one and don't remember seeing it before. Definately different from the norm.
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by LHays on Wed Sep 10, 2003 8:17 pm
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Greg
Another excellent shot.....and of a bird that I would love to see.
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