Baby Acvocet - Click image to view larger!

Thanks for viewing/comments! ...this baby is from a different couple, of course.

They don't mate yesterday and out comes the baby like a vending machine :-)

thanks for the explanation- was amazed at how fast it went!! of course, would fit in perfectly with today's expectations of immediate results :)  we enjoyed the whole series - thanks. G+V

Thanks Greg & Verena! Greetings from a sunny & hot SoCal!

this is a very nice image TM. I like the bokeh in the background and colour tones here. I do feel as though more DoF could have isolated your subject matter and therefore added "punch" to the image as a whole (as you have with many of your other images)

Thanks Art X!

Nicely done with a good reflection. A long lens gives a very good limited DOF

Thanks Ken!

Tm J,

First of all, . . . Congratulations for having this image chosen as "Photo of the Day."

The details of the baby Avocet are distinctive. Very appropriate DOF which gives that somewhat "creamy" foreground and background. The Avocets reflection certainly adds to the overall attractiveness of this image as well as the dark blue tones of the background.

However, . . . I suppose I don't understand the criteria from which a POTD is selected.

As one whom is a "follower" of your work, I know that you have many many more fine Wildlife/Nature photographs that I would expect could, and would draw much more of an interactive "photo discussion."

If for no other reason than to help the viewer understand the challenges involved in getting such wonderful, informative and educational wildlife/nature shots in the wild as you do.

I for one can and do appreciate that this was shot handheld @ 1000mm with a shutter speed of 1/1250th, and with a 2X TC.

But again, I'll stick to my view point and say, . . . "I certainly wish one of your more unique and challenging photographs would have been chosen for discussion."

Hopefully we will see one in the anticipated return of the POTW.

Jim j.

Thanks Jim! I share very much the same thought as yours  when I got the e-mail (yesterday, I think).  Thanks for stopping by and left your thought. :-)

I think Jim J. makes a good point.  You have other images that are, IMO, much stronger images than this one (your photo of the seagull taking off is a good example, again IMO).  I'm not crazy about the bokeh in this avocet photo, and the darkening of the top that I assume has been applied is also distracting (too much, and it accentuates the poor bokeh that results from having highlights in the distant background).

When a photo is on display for only a day, it should (IMO) be exceptionally good in the category it represents.  This is a photo that some viewers may like and some may not like -- a perfect photo to be discussed and batted back and forth for a week as a Photo Of The Week.  As (one of) the "best" photo(s) submitted on a particular day....I don't think so.

Having a POTD is fine.  Not having a POTW to be discussed for an extended period of time is not so fine, especially for a photo site that wants to foster dialogue among its members.

BTW, I hope that's just seaweed on the avocet's right foot.

Thanks Stephen! Glad you stop by and left your thought (which I very share the same thought). The image is very much as is with a bit of sharpening and vibrance adjustment, hence, I am not sure why the top has a darken band (above that it's lighter). Probably just reflection since I had used the flash with better beamer flash extender). Anyway, the black area on the right foot is just mud

Btw, I really enjoy looking at images at your website.