Kildeer Portrait

[Dave Phillips]

Back in November, had the pleasure of photographing this kildeer
over a number of days. I could lay on the ground and she would approach quite close, often under mfd.
This is right at 100% crop, cuz I'm a sucker for closeup portraits. (I'm a farmer too Jim) :)
Kildeer have beautiful eyes. Evening shot, thus the golden light.

http://i29.tinypic.com/14o5beo.jpg

Exposure Time = 1/640"
F/7.1
Aperture priority
ISO 400
-0.33EV
Spot metered
400mm

thank you for looking and critique.....does the loss of shadow detail side of neck in black area really "hurt" the image?
edit: in hindsight, I see the beak is quite soft. My bad!

[Jim Poor]

Wow, talk about details! Just a touch of softness on the bill. I don't find the small area of blocked shadows too detrimental.
I just finished Joe McNally's book in which he notes "If you want to make something interesting, don't light all of it."

He's not a wildlife photog though . . .

I like this one.

[Bob Malbon]

Hello David, Look good to me! -Bob Malbon

[Mike Wilson]

Fantastic closeup. I love it. Once you get the keeper shot, go for more DOF by stopping down to f/11 or more if you can. Getting the bill sharp would be a small improvement but a good one.

[Fabs Forns]

Excellent portrait. Mike had good advise and agree the side light adds depth to the image :)

Congratulations!

[billymoore]

Feather detail is very nice and the secret of laying on the ground for a good kildeer portrait.

[Anita Rakestraw]

Great job, Dave! We usually have a pair or two raising young on our property in the summers. The young ones are so cute - miniature replicas of the parents!

[Dave Phillips]

thanks all for input.
And Mike, I do often forget to stop down when I am so close....that dof is minimal at best