American Avocets

[bolden]

I found a nice little flooded area at Yolo bypass where i had great views at about a dozen of these avocets. I had to lay in the mud, but the pictures turned out great.

All of these were taken with the 500mm and 1.4 tc on a tripod, and the rest can be seen here. http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/

Also, the last one contains some gore involving a hawk and a coot.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_8951.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_9197.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_9263.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_9278.jpg

I just clipped this guys wing, so close.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_8801.jpg

[Steve Cali]

Bolden,

I love the third one down. The composition of this photo with the splashing water, one looking at you and the other looking down is very nice.

Did you hand hold these shots or....?

Love them and thanks for posting your photos.

One last question...Do you convert your raw files to DNG's when you bring them in from the camera or card?

Steve Cali

[bolden]

These were all on a tripod that was completely flat on the ground, thats what gave me that low angle.

I shoot all raw and bring them straight into Nikon Capture NX, and i do everything in there.

That third shot was apparently a mating ritual, because right after that they mated, which i have a picture of if you go into the link i put up.