Peter Dominowski
July 2026 - Roseate Spoonbill Wingspread
About the Image(s)
A Roseate Spoonbill gracefully spreads its wings in flight as the sun sets in Florida. Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, Florida, USA.
In processing, the background was slightly blurred and darkened, and shadows and highlights adjusted on the Spoonbill to compensate for the side-light.
Sony Alpha 1
Sony 400mm f/2.8 prime @ 400mm
ISO 1600
Exposure: 1/2000 @ f/2.8
Photo taken handheld.
Image was processed in Adobe Lightroom.
7 comments posted
Wow! Beautiful colors on the Spoonbill and nice contrast to the background making her show off even more! Open wings and nice sidelighting! I like to get my subjects in good light even if it means some slight adjustments after the fact.
Well done on one of the prettiest Florida Birds out there! Posted: 07/07/2026 18:44:10
Well done on one of the prettiest Florida Birds out there! Posted: 07/07/2026 18:44:10
There are few birds that can compete with the stunning color of the Roseate Spoonbill and the contrast of the background really shows it off. Looks like nesting colors. Nice lighting through the feathers. Posted: 07/10/2026 19:58:45
I really like this image. The light filtering through the bird's feathers makes it especially striking. The image is sharp, with excellent detail in both the plumage and the eye.
We occasionally have juvenile Roseate Spoonbills visit us during the summer, but I have yet to see one in such beautiful full breeding plumage as the one you've captured. Well done! Posted: 07/14/2026 19:56:50
We occasionally have juvenile Roseate Spoonbills visit us during the summer, but I have yet to see one in such beautiful full breeding plumage as the one you've captured. Well done! Posted: 07/14/2026 19:56:50
The editing you did on this photo really makes the light on the bird stand out. With the darker background, the bird's colors are so striking. The unedited backgrounds at OW look messy and repetative. At first I thought you captured this one in a Louisiana marsh. Nice catch. Posted: 07/15/2026 20:47:23
Very nice, Peter. Well executed. Sharp focus, exceptional lighting, great action with the wings spread. I saw these birds once many years ago on a trip to Florida. My pictures looked nothing like this. You should consider making it a print or submitting it for an exhibition. Posted: 07/17/2026 20:27:08
Thank you for your kind and generous comments :)
Posted: 07/17/2026 23:06:17
Posted: 07/17/2026 23:06:17
You nailed this one! Roseate spoonbills are hard to beat, big AND colorful. The focus, background and lighting are superb. Well done. Posted: 07/18/2026 15:35:36