birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Here is a photo of a Sanderling I took a while ago. It demonstrates the value of getting down to eye level with the bird. Note how the background of the bird is not the near water but the very out of focus far inlet. It allows great separation of the bird from the background and gives it a bit of a 3D look. It also helps with focusing as there is less to confuse the AF system. I was at Barnegat Light Jetty which forms Barnegat Inlet at the north end of Long Beach Island, NJ. I was down on the sand on the dry side of the jetty putting the bird just below my eye level. The waves were ocassionally washing over the top of the rocks.

For you birders out there. Distinguishing the Sanderling from the Semi-palmated Sandpiper and the Western Sandpiper during the non-breeding season can be a challenge. Many birders just throw up their hands and lump them into the category of "Peeps". I recently read that the Sanderling is the only one of those three that shows a definite "Gape Notch" That is that little pointed area where the beak meets the feathers on the head and is where the separation is between the upper and lower mandible. The other two sandpipers either show a tiny notch or none at all. I looked through my files and did find several birds that I had misidentified!

bhowdy Loc: Maryville, Tennessee

Excellent light! Sanderlings are easy for me ..... much smaller than the others

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Western Sandpiper is a costal bird we only see in the winter. It breeds in northern Alaska. The Semi-palmated migrates through and can be seen anywhere near water from the rockies east. They area all within a half inch of one another in size.

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

:thumbup: Good demo, Ed.

globetrekker Loc: Bend, OR

Really great shot. And I appreciate your explanation of technique, and why it produced such a nice image.

Fotoholic Loc: Austin, TX

Very nice shot! Love, the view point

7awol Loc: Butler, Pa

Not quite down to eye level although I did take a knee. Recently saw a guy shooting shore birds laying on his belly and sliding his camera around on an old tin pie pan. Would have liked to see the result. Imagine that his birds were beautifully isolated from the background.
Dean

Roy Hakala Loc: Red Wing, MN

I just returned from Sanibel and then read this post. I wish I had read ir a week ago!

Just an odd thought: I have a 90 degree mirror lens attachment that I have never used. Has anyone tried using such a "spy" attachment to get a low camera angle without having to lie flat in the sand?

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Yours are very nicely done. The first really does benefit from the lower viewpoint with the bird and the foam all crisp and clear. The second one is a great example of how to take pictures of multiple birds and have them all in focus despite the shallow depth of field of the longer lens. The more on the same plane as the focal plane, the better off you will be, focus wise.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Never tried a 90 degree attachment but I don't think there is any reason not to try it. I expect you would get a mirror image but with birds it wouldn't matter. With people it would be noticeable as our faces are not bi-laterally identical.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

By the way...all are welcome to add their examples of using a low viewpoint.