Oystercatcher up close


Posted by Tobias Bäckström on Fri Aug 22, 2003 4:59 pm

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Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Nikon F100 w. Sigma 500mm f/4.5
Matrix @-0.7
Sensia 100
PS 7.0 levels, curves, USM. ~40% crop

While I am not a big fan of tight headshots you have to go for something new sometimes. In this case I got the opportunity with a ridiculously tame oystercather. Unfortunately I forgot my incident meter in the car and had to do a guesstimation on the exposure. I know I should have gone for a smaller aperture, but next time...... :D

All comments appreciated!
[b][i]Tobias Bäckström, Stockholm, Sweden[/i][/b]
[url=http://www.nordicbirds.com][b][i]www.nordicbirds.com[/i][/b][/url]
[url=http://tobiasbäckström.naturescapes.net][b][i]NSN Portfolio[/i][/b][/url]

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by Sandy Mossberg on Fri Aug 22, 2003 5:31 pm
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Fine shot, Tobias. If he's so tame, why didn't you wipe the dirt from his bill? :P Interesting that these guys don't have the double pupil that many of ours have, although I really shouldn't make that statement seeing only one bird.
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by Alan Melle on Fri Aug 22, 2003 5:50 pm
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Nice head shot! Exposure looks pretty good and the orange/red bill and eye are great. Panning slightly to the left would open up a little space in front of the bill which is about the only thing that might improve the image. Wish it were mine!
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by AlexC on Fri Aug 22, 2003 6:50 pm
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Lovely mud shot of a wonderful bird!!!
Is he living inside your lens ??
I like it, very nice !!!! 8)
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by Anthony Medici on Fri Aug 22, 2003 6:57 pm
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I agree with Alan, a little more space on the left would have been what I would have done. Still a lovely image as is. :)
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by matt kuchta on Sat Aug 23, 2003 12:22 am
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That eye - what detail. That's my favorite part.
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by Andrew Mc on Sat Aug 23, 2003 1:28 am
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Great detail and I think you've done nailed the exposure fairly well. Great orange on both the bill and around the eye.
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by Mike Wilson on Sat Aug 23, 2003 1:38 am
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Very closeup shot! A little more room would help it to feel less cramped but then a closeup is for showing us the details. Nice.
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by E.J. Peiker on Sat Aug 23, 2003 2:25 am
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What kind of Oystercatcher is this. It doesn't have a yellow eye and has white on it so it isn't either of the two types we have here in North America. I like the tight head shot very much!
 

by Rich S on Sat Aug 23, 2003 7:05 am
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First headshot I've seen of an oystercatch and very nicely done. I'm impressed with the exposure since you've got to avoid cooking the whites while at the same time not allowing the bird's head to merge with the background.

Rich
 

by Greg Downing on Sat Aug 23, 2003 7:11 am
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Very cool bird! I agree that it needs a little more space on the left and a slight head turn would be desired. Great bird!

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by Juli Wilcox on Sat Aug 23, 2003 9:56 pm
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Tobias---to me, this is a perfect close up, dirt and all. Beautiful saturation, contrast and sharpness. Right on!
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by Alan Murphy on Sat Aug 23, 2003 10:11 pm
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Very nice Tobias,

Love that he has his dinner all over his mouth.

Alan
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