Just a Laughing Gull

Gallery: AvianPosted October 7, 2009148 views16 comments

Larus atricilla

Image created April 12, 2009 at a county park near where I lived. I was photographing Black Skimmer resting on the shoreline of a lagoon when this gull decided to bathe. I took a few shots of it and really liked this one.

D200, HH, laying in the tidal mud, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 250, 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light, 74% of the original image.

Some may not like it because the eye is partially obscurred by a wing feather, but I like it because it is and feel that it adds to the image rather than detracts. I call it my "Mata Hari Gull" and that just makes me laugh.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your comments & critiques, thank you for looking.

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 7, 2009 at 6:36 PM

Lia, I like images that "break the rules" a bit, so I like this. The fact that you can see the eye and face of the bird thru the "blinds" makes it work for me. I also like the overall light and color scheme. Nice comp, exposure, and sharpness as usual.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 7, 2009 at 6:41 PM

I'm glad to be first with this one. Intimate and lovely, and the eye peeping through the flight feathers puts it over the top IMHO. Per usual, your technique and technicals are outstanding. The last little fillip is the tiny back-splash water droplet behind the gull.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 7, 2009 at 7:41 PM

Very cool angle and wing position, Lia. It makes for a great composition.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on October 7, 2009 at 8:12 PM

Lia:
It's a fun action shot, with your usual low angle, nice lighting and excellent techs. But I feel a little like a peeping Tom, peering through the shutters to view the gull's eye.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on October 7, 2009 at 8:46 PM

It's nice to see different images. I'd prefer to see the eye showing through the feathers, instead of partially covered, but this is the what you got and I find it very pleasing.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on October 7, 2009 at 9:23 PM

Exposure light and comp are good but I'm distracted not seeing the eye more. I also found the more I looked at it the more it grew on me.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on October 7, 2009 at 10:11 PM

I too would prefer to see the whole eye, but as is, it still has the same general feel as it would if the entire eye were showing. Neat shot.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 7, 2009 at 11:16 PM

Unusual and very attractive image, Lia. The feathers do form a veil for the eye. I'm fine with that. I really like the detail in the whites and the water droplets too. The reflection may be truncated but the truncation is not noticeable because it fades out towards the front of the image. Excellent work.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on October 8, 2009 at 12:03 AM

I personally like the mystery of the bird peering through the feathers. In fact, I think zooming in to just include that wing and the head features would make a wonderful fine art print. As usual, the techs are great.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on October 8, 2009 at 12:14 AM

Lia as usual a really great shot and I love it that the open wings are making this fan partially blocking the face.Great behavioural shot

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 8, 2009 at 1:11 AM

I have mixed feelings about this. I'm glad to see you pushing the envelope with you compositions and broadening the field for all of us. But this doesn't quite work for me. As a couple others have said it would work better if the gap between the feathers allowed the entire eye to show.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Carrie O'Brien-Sib on October 8, 2009 at 12:59 PM

Wonderful comp and light. The partially obscured eye is a little distracting, but overall a fantastic shot! Great work!
COS

Registered on August 4, 2009, 149 Posts, 889 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on October 8, 2009 at 1:06 PM

Nice pose and a really cool Gull. Wish I could see a bit more of his face though

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on October 8, 2009 at 6:06 PM

I'm enjoying your recent images Lia - they are thought provoking works of art. I do miss seeing the eye in this one though.

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Day on October 8, 2009 at 9:11 PM

It is a bit different but I like that. Great lighting and nice background and the motion in the water surface with drops really add a lot.

Registered on August 5, 2008, 25 Posts, 173 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 9, 2009 at 10:29 PM

Like the peek-a-boo through the primaries Lia

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments