Resting Red-breasted MerganserResting Red-breasted Merganser – Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/320, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm

Moving; even just a little bit, can change the background of an image even when the subject is stationary. One May morning I spotted a Red-breasted Merganser resting on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico at Fort De Soto, Florida and I knew I had to photograph it. The merganser wasn’t bothered when I slowly belly crawled up to it in the wet sand but after taking quite a few images of the merganser I wanted something different in the background besides the incoming waves. This image was taken looking due west.

Red-breasted Merganser taking a rest on the Gulf shoreRed-breasted Merganser taking a rest on the Gulf shore – Nikon D200, handheld, f8, 1/500, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 370mm

So I belly crawled into a slightly different location where I could view the bird looking southwest and started photographing the Red-breasted Merganser again. Completely different background and completely different look.

I learned if I didn’t like the background or wanted a different look I could just move a little.

Mia

Another post about this same Red-breasted Merganser is here. See how the background changed because of the waves?