Wilson's Snipe

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

What technical feedback would you like if any? Any

What artistic feedback would you like if any? Any

Pertinent technical details or techniques:

I got this shot a couple of days ago at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. It is the first Wilson’s Snipe I’ve seen down there. Cool looking bird. D-500, Nikon

SNIPE
SNIPE1201×1440 1.31 MB
200-500mm lens, Nikon 1.4 TC, hand held, 1/1250th, f 8.0, 700mm, ISO 1000, cropped to 1705 x 2044, AI Clear

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2

A nice look at the Snipe with the head turn and in a typical environment. Maybe a tad tight on the right?

3

A nice look at the Snipe indeed, Douglas. I like the position you caught him in.

4

Nice detail in the Snipe, Dave. The busy background doesn’t bother me, but the one almost vertical reed chunk in the lower left foreground really draws my eye-you might look at doing something about it.

5

Dave,

Nice photo of an elusive (quick flying) bird. Not to hijack the thread, but I have a couple of newbie questions. Were you able to photograph him (her?) for a while, more than a few minutes? Was it walking around hunting for insects? Then for me, why f/8 and not a wider opening to blur the background a bit? Thanks for any help you can provide.

6

It was spending enough time pecking around in that stuff that I had time for several shots. f 8.0 is as far as I can stop down with my big lens and 1.4 TC.

7

Thanks. Understood. It is not always easy to get these critters to do what you want!