Ten Favorite Images Of 2020 — # 9, Least Sandpipers

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Back in February Louisa and I found ourselves driving on a rural dirt road a couple of days after a heavy winter rain. Most of the rainfall had already evaporated but there were still a few puddles here and there. We rounded a bend in the road and approached a particularly large puddle. Standing in the puddle was a flock of small wading birds. These were Least Sandpipers, among the smallest of shore birds.

The little sandpipers ignored us as they foraged and I made this image. I like it for a couple of reasons. Mainly, I like it for the composition. It was an absolutely windless morning and the puddle’s surface was mirror-like. I was able to capture reflections of the birds that are almost as sharp as are the birds. The reflections, coupled with the birds, made for an interesting, almost geometric effect. I also like the pinkish-lavender tint on the puddle’s surface. There were a few very light clouds that morning. The water’s surface mirrored the sky overhead, which was not pure blue by reasons of the clouds and tinted by a low winter sun.

So, for a change, everything worked. I’ll happily take an image like this whenever I can.

Image made with a Canon 5Div, Canon EF 400mm f4 DO II lens+1.4x telextender, M setting (auto ISO), ISO 1000, f8 @ 1/2000, +2/3 stop exposure compensation.