On the beach with Sandpipers

Louis ChampanLouis Champan Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
edited August 23, 2007 in Wildlife
Spent a few days last week out on the ocean shores of Washington, looking for some interesting birds. The weather wasn't all that cooperative, but I did find a few Sandpipers.

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Louie

Comments

  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited August 20, 2007
    Nice series Louie. You still must be young and agile to get down low for those eyeball angle views. :D
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • Louis ChampanLouis Champan Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
    edited August 20, 2007
    Bird Man Photographer wrote:
    Nice series Louie. You still must be young and agile to get down low for those eyeball angle views. :D

    Actually, not. These were all shot out the window of my truck at some distance with a 500 mm lens. It gives the illusion of being down and low. Hey, I can't crawl around in the sand anymore. When you're young and spry you never give it a second thought, but then you're looking for something totally different than birds during all of that crawling.

    Thanks for taking a look.

    Louie
  • ShasocShasoc Registered Users Posts: 691 Major grins
    edited August 20, 2007
    Very nice set, Louie. Good job with the exposure. Detail are very nice. I particularly like the IF shots. clap.gif
    Socrate
    "Natura artis magistra"
  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited August 20, 2007
    good series!! I love the third photoclap.gif
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited August 20, 2007
    Great! thumb.gif

    Tough colors...very good details and DOF.
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited August 20, 2007
    Excellent series, nice bifs and the still shots are tack sharp!
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • Louis ChampanLouis Champan Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
    edited August 21, 2007
    Shasoc wrote:
    Very nice set, Louie. Good job with the exposure. Detail are very nice. I particularly like the IF shots. clap.gif

    Thanks for taking a look and your comments.

    Louie
  • Louis ChampanLouis Champan Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
    edited August 21, 2007
    dbaker1221 wrote:
    good series!! I love the third photoclap.gif

    Thanks Dave, I appreciate it.

    Louie
  • Louis ChampanLouis Champan Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
    edited August 21, 2007
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Great! thumb.gif

    Tough colors...very good details and DOF.
    Thanks for taking a look. Not sure the tone of the shots is exactly correct, maybe the WB is off a bit.

    Louie
  • Louis ChampanLouis Champan Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
    edited August 21, 2007
    Maestro wrote:
    Excellent series, nice bifs and the still shots are tack sharp!

    Thanks Stephen, I appreciate your commenting.

    Louie
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited August 21, 2007
    I love the first one! The sandpiper looks so intent, yet elegant, and there it is with this big ball of sand on it's bill rolleyes1.gif

    I know, my sense of humor is weird!

    I live on the coast -- occasionally the flat light can be an advantage as it was for the sandpipers.
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  • Louis ChampanLouis Champan Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
    edited August 21, 2007
    Dee wrote:
    I love the first one! The sandpiper looks so intent, yet elegant, and there it is with this big ball of sand on it's bill rolleyes1.gif

    I know, my sense of humor is weird!

    I live on the coast -- occasionally the flat light can be an advantage as it was for the sandpipers.

    Thanks Dee. To be honest I wasn't all that happy with these shots, when I took them I thought that they'd be OK, but...

    I have the hardest time with getting some decent results when shooting snadpipers etc on the beach, I just have never been able to really nail the exposure and or WB during the shoot. Maybe you can give me a pointer or two if you shoot on the beach very often.

    Thanks
    Louie
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited August 21, 2007
    Louis Champan wrote:
    Thanks Dee. To be honest I wasn't all that happy with these shots, when I took them I thought that they'd be OK, but...

    I have the hardest time with getting some decent results when shooting snadpipers etc on the beach, I just have never been able to really nail the exposure and or WB during the shoot. Maybe you can give me a pointer or two if you shoot on the beach very often.

    Thanks
    Louie

    A pointer or two? I'm sorry, but I'm...rolleyes1.gif

    I don't have a long enough lens to get these little guys, and I just love watching them!

    I think you need to give me some pointers! :D

    I find the white balance difficult, especially on overcast days. I try to shoot in raw now, so I can play with the color temperature. Where I live on the "slightly foggy" days, the sun is in and out of the fog so often, it's not even worth attempting to set a custom white balance.

    To me the color of the sand looked real... so I think you did a good job.
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  • HarvHarv Registered Users Posts: 1,105 Major grins
    edited August 21, 2007
    Beautiful set, Louie. As always. I love the low angle on these shots. The inflights are awesome.
    Harv
    Cobourg, Ontario, Canada

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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited August 22, 2007
    Outstanding job Louie in very challenging lighting. clap.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited August 22, 2007
    Louis Champan wrote:
    Thanks Dee. To be honest I wasn't all that happy with these shots, when I took them I thought that they'd be OK, but...

    I have the hardest time with getting some decent results when shooting snadpipers etc on the beach, I just have never been able to really nail the exposure and or WB during the shoot. Maybe you can give me a pointer or two if you shoot on the beach very often.

    Thanks
    Louie

    Your exposure on these shots are good! I would maybe adjust the levels a bit to give a little more contrast. When shooting on a beach on an overcast day the lighting is going to be even. Adding some flash wouldn't hurt either as it would make the eyes pop more.
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • Louis ChampanLouis Champan Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
    edited August 22, 2007
    Harv wrote:
    Beautiful set, Louie. As always. I love the low angle on these shots. The inflights are awesome.

    Thanks Harv. I've sure got a lot to learn about shooting these guys on the beach though. I don't know about anyone else but I find it a real challenge to get a beach shot of sandpipers to really pop. Seems like they are always moving, even when they are standing still, always bobbing and weaving.

    Louie
  • kriyababajikriyababaji Registered Users Posts: 295 Major grins
    edited August 23, 2007
    Great Shots

    Nice job keeping them large in the frame so one is able to appreciate the beautiful detail in these little guys.

    Shane
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