Birdie

[Shadowman]

[flashback]

Right now all I can hear is the gulls from the movie 'Finding Nemo' mine mine mine mine.
For no real good reason I particularly like this shot.

[Shadowman]

Right now all I can hear is the gulls from the movie 'Finding Nemo' mine mine mine mine.
For no real good reason I particularly like this shot.

Jack,

Thanks for the comments.

[GBO25]

I quite like it as well. The single subject with an almost monochrome background and nice eye contact. But what a difficult exposure exercise that's caused burnt out highlights and darkish shadows on the bird. No doubt if you'd exposed perfectly for the highlights the shadows would have been black so this is a good compromise. Even so I think selectively darkening the highlights would improve this shot

[Shadowman]

I quite like it as well. The single subject with an almost monochrome background and nice eye contact. But what a difficult exposure exercise that's caused burnt out highlights and darkish shadows on the bird. No doubt if you'd exposed perfectly for the highlights the shadows would have been black so this is a good compromise. Even so I think selectively darkening the highlights would improve this shot

Hi Grahame,

Thanks for the comments and critique. This capture was actually slightly underexposed, not intentionally; I had exposed for the sky and then recomposed the shot without any sky visible. During the post processing I increased the exposure just enough to see some details in the white feathers and did an auto level adjustment. I could adjust levels per tones within the image but liked the AUTO results.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

You've found Jonathon!
Great capture, but he's looking older than I remember him being.

[Shadowman]

You've found Jonathon!
Great capture, but he's looking older than I remember him being.

Alan,

Thanks for the comments and chuckle.

[Brownbear]

Hi John,

I also like this image for the way you nailed the focus/clarity on the gulls eye, all beautifully set of by a gorgeous soft blue background. Softer lighting would be especially special, if you see him/her again.

[Shadowman]

Hi John,

I also like this image for the way you nailed the focus/clarity on the gulls eye, all beautifully set of by a gorgeous soft blue background. Softer lighting would be especially special, if you see him/her again.

Hi Christina,

Thanks for the comments, taken around noon time so lighting was a bit harsh.

[Stagecoach]

Gull shots like this just work well, I'm sure it's to do with the way they stand

[Shadowman]

Gull shots like this just work well, I'm sure it's to do with the way they stand

Grahame,

Thanks for the comments.

[IzzieK]

What is this guy doing? I will wait for food...all those thoughts by the look of its eyes on you. Very nice composition...

[rudi]

Nice birdie John.
Don't know iff shooting from a lower angle was possible, so there was no railing running behind the bird ??
My 2 cents...

[Shadowman]

What is this guy doing? I will wait for food...all those thoughts by the look of its eyes on you. Very nice composition...

Thanks Izzie,

I think they were sunning themselves, if I got too close they would take flight.

[Shadowman]

Nice birdie John.
Don't know iff shooting from a lower angle was possible, so there was no railing running behind the bird ??
My 2 cents...

Hi Rudi,
Thanks for the comments, behind the bird and below was a closed off dock, a lower angle was possible.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice shot John, I like the composition and the bird's eye looks really sharp and clear It might be a good idea to try to bring out some details in the highlights.

[Shadowman]

Very nice shot John, I like the composition and the bird's eye looks really sharp and clear It might be a good idea to try to bring out some details in the highlights.

Binnur,

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Are you referring to the feather area?

[bnnrcn]

Yes, sorry for not explaining properly

Binnur,

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Are you referring to the feather area?

[Dave Humphries]

Hi John,

Like others, I would prefer to see a bit more feather detail in those highlights - I know you explained that (visually apparent) loss happened in PP.

This is a great shot and demonstrates that sometimes rules* can be broken - I say that because I believe that the reason it works is because of the two white triangle shapes (formed on the railings behind), balance the bird and give the composition a 'symmetry of three' - that's a phrase I just invented because I don't know what it should be called

* the rules that say "keep the background simple" and "avoid things as bright as the subject" because they (often) distract.

Also; talking of triangles and the role they can play in successful images, I also like how the rail it is perched on appears from the lower left corner, giving a dark triangle in lower right corner.

Or perhaps I am over analysing

Cheers, Dave