Theme Purple Sandpiper

From Barnegat in 2014. Added sliver of canvas on top, cropped slightly bottom and right.

D7000, 500f4 + 1.4 TC, ISO 1000, 1/1000s @ f/7.1 manual.

I know these rocks well. Been visiting them for a couple decades now. Looks mighty slippery where this guy is. It is so hard to get these guys perched on the perfect rock and then be able to lay down and have a nice background of water or sky. I have a few shots like that but very few. Conditions in this shot look very tough and I think considering you did well. Lighting looks poor but you still have a sharp photo with good detail that shows how these birds make a living all winter long. Being picky I think the head looks a tiny bit soft and in a perfect world I think a background with just water would be better. But we both know full well that very often that is just not possible on those rocks.

nice image,some good detail,love the rocks with the lighter greens running through it,dont mind the overcast lighting,maybe sharpen the eye a bit.TFS.

I'm sure you had difficult situation as Isaac describes. Great bird, on my wish list, and I like the rocky perch. I'm not a huge fan of the top part of the image, but that is what you had to contend with. I like the water drops on the sandpiper.

Bill, I agree with previous comments, although the sky doesn't bother me much as you've framed the sandpiper perfectly against the background rock. Very nicely done from a precarious looking shooting point.