Sanderlings and Semi-palmated Plovers: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, September 2025 — What unites these two photos, besides the fact that the Sanderlings and Plovers were part of a mixed feeding flock on the same stretch of beach, is that both are digital manipulations combining two images with the focus on the individual birds into a single image where they are in focus at the same time. At 600 equivalent, even with the lens stopped down for greater depth of field, such a depth of focus is impossible. This is called focus stacking, and while my Sony a6700 will take the images on its own, changing the focus in steps between foreground and background, I find it easier to just take two photos, one focused on each bird, and manually combine them in software like Pixomatic with touch-up in Photomator and Touch-Retouch. This is a case of using postprocessing to restore a “human eye” view of the subjects, even at higher magnifications than we can see with our naked eye. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed, as above, in Photomator, Pixomatic, and Touch-Retouch.

Found on the beach while looking for shorebirds, and fitting for a sabbath day. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 120mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Photomator.

Semi-palmated Plover: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, September 2025 — I have been looking for the Semi-palmated Plovers which generally come through our local York County beaches in late August for several weeks now. I finally found some, a good number actually, way down the end of a long beach were only the most dedicated walkers go. They are such perky little birds. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Speaking of the beauty of the September marsh. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 @ 162mm equivalent. Aperture Program. f16 for depth of field. Processed in Photomator. Great and Snowy Egrets in the distance.