Yesterday morning I got an unexpected sandpiper two-fer.
After yesterday’s long and depressing post I figured something light-hearted and shorter might be appropriate for this morning.
1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I got my first decent Spotted Sandpiper photos of the year yesterday morning. This bird and its probable mate were foraging in and near a stream in the Wasatch Mountains but for much of my time with them the sun was hidden by clouds. I was so excited to finally get reasonably close to this species this year I took lots of photos in poor light anyway and that was a mistake. I’ll delete all of those poorly lit shots en masse.
But the light was better for my last few minutes with them and even though I was shooting at a fairly steep angle I liked this shot because of my lucky timing with the reflection of the sandpiper’s head in the tiny puddle in front of the bird. For me that reflection turns a fairly mundane photo into something unusual and at least slightly special. I don’t think it’s a great shot but it more than piques my interest.
I’d been trying to time my shots to catch interesting reflections in various tiny puddles but to be honest I didn’t even know I’d captured this one until I looked at my photos at home.
A little serendipity was appreciated after the way most things have been going lately.
Ron
Like Marty, my brain was trying to figure out what was going on with the second, up-side-down bird. Congratulations on this happy accident. It is uncanny how perfect the reflection is in the tiny puddle.
Pleasant surprise!
That reflection is magically delicious!
“Magically delicious”.
I’ll take it, Dave. Thanks.
A beauty…especially like the reflection…Real appeal…
Thank you, Patty.
The reflection is superb!
Glad you like it, April. Thanks.
My interest is more than picqued. I am blown away by how perfectly framed the reflection is. Love that you snuck this one past Murphy.
Thanks, EC. If you try hard enough for long enough you can eventually get lucky.
I just couldn’t figure this one out on my cell. Had to go to the laptop to see it clearly.
I would call this a shot in a million, but then you regularly post them.😉
“I just couldn’t figure this one out on my cell”
Yeah, it doesn’t look like much as a thumbnail either. Thanks, Lyle.
It’s stunning really.
Thanks, Arwen.
Superb shot Ron!
Thanks, Charlotte.
This is quite the nifty shot! At first glance, my brain tried to turn the reflection into a second bird. Trompe l’oeil at its finest! 🙂
Ol’ Murph must have been sleeping in yesterday. 😉
“Ol’ Murph must have been sleeping in yesterday.”
Nope, he was there and wide awake for most of the morning, Marty. He just looked away for a moment and I sneaked one in… 🙂
The deformed chickens you are eating are a result of Frankenstein breeding to gain the most meat possible with no regard for the poor health characteristics and side effects on the chickens. The chickens are crammed together in a ghetto life of pain and misery. They are fed whatever chemicals will make them grow big faster with no regard for the human consumption of harmful chemicals. I am surprised you did not mention the horrible life of large scale slaughterhouse methods.
Are you chastising me, Charlie?
And “I’m surprised” you would make such a comment on a post about sandpipers rather than on my chicken post two days ago where it belongs..
I guess you’ll just have to mention it on your own blog. I chose not to go into it.
Amen!
Truly amazing reflection..great sharpness and color..one of those rare and special shots…that’s why we go out!!
“That’s why we go out!”
Yup, that’s a big part of it, Jerry – those unexpected pleasant surprises. With bird photography you just never know…
I’ve never seen a reflection in a framed “vignette” before–I really like
the riffle around it, setting it off—adds a very special quality to a
straight forward good portrait of a perky bird!
“I’ve never seen a reflection in a framed “vignette” before”
I never thought about it that way but you’re right, Kris.
A little serendipity definitely does help from time to time. This is a very cool photo Ron. I have always really liked reflection photos and this one is special. Usually they are full reflections in water, but this partial reflection sets it apart.
Everett, while I was trying to get reflection shots of this bird I was always after full body reflections. I didn’t even think about how neat a partial reflection might look.
That is a great shot!
Yes, I agree a great Shot!
Thanks, Donald.
Thank you, Dick.
Neat! Wonderful reflection of the sandpiper’s head in the small, smooth, patch of water……. 🙂 You couldn’t “orchestrate” that shot if you tried probably… 😉 Or perhaps you could! I love how just that part of the bird is reflected and SO clearly…….
“Or perhaps you could”
Ha, you’d be surprised what some bird photographers can (and do) “orchestrate”, Judy. Thanks.