Unimpressed

Gallery: AvianPosted December 14, 2009169 views12 comments

D300, 500mm f/4, handheld
ISO 400, 1/2000 sec, f/8
Manual Exposure Program, Spot Metering Mode

Photo taken March 30, 2009 at Ft. Morgan State Park, AL. Cropped to 60% of full frame horizontally and 63% of full frame vertically to remove adjacent terns. Sharpening, exposure, and brightness adjustments using LR2 and CS3.
Seemingly, the Royal Tern on the right (female?) was unimpressed with the catch of the other tern but did make two furtive glances at the other tern and minnow while I was shooting.
Comments and suggestions most welcome.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 14, 2009 at 9:15 PM

"Cropped to 60% of full frame horizontally and 63% of full frame vertically" is about 38% remaining and very close to the 35% of my Yellow Slippers shot.

I like the tones and 3D look of this. All that's missing for me is better definition/separation of the eye of the female.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 14, 2009 at 9:53 PM

interesting poses by both birds, and nice hairdo's too. The eye of the bird on the right stands out a little better in the larger version. very nice.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 14, 2009 at 10:55 PM

I like the eye of the "female". She seems to be annoyed at his boastful display of his catch. Great photo of great birds.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 15, 2009 at 6:16 AM

Nice one David - good job getting both pretty much in focus. like the crisp clean lines and bold colours.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 15, 2009 at 6:44 AM

I like the comp David. Nice detail for a large crop. My only wish is for a bit more definition in the right-hand bird's eye.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 15, 2009 at 7:43 AM

This one made me laugh David, well done, it looks great for the crop.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 15, 2009 at 8:40 AM

David,

I like the poses of the terns, how the wings are dropped in the female, some thing I see most often when this species during breeding season. I especially like the 'gift' in the males bill and the sharpness, details and light.

Very well done and very interesting too.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 15, 2009 at 9:24 AM

Nice work on the exposure here Dave . I'm very partial to these type of behavioral shots. The female's eye has already been mentioned, but its not a big deal.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on December 15, 2009 at 4:26 PM

Hi David,
this composition works very well for me. I like the natural color and the detail.
Brilliantly done!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on December 15, 2009 at 7:50 PM

Excellent David. I love their positioning and expressions

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 15, 2009 at 8:44 PM

I'd be delighted to have taken this shot Dave! I love behavioral images and this is a very good one IMO. Your DOF and timing were perfect and I like that you got them both so well defined on the rock perch with the OOF water background. Yes, a catchlight in the female? may have been preferred but the lack of one certainly isn't a significant issue for me, esp since the bottom half of the eye is distinct in the larger version. I actually think the lack of the catchlight makes it look like the female is giving the male a disdainful look for his pitiful offering (if that's what it was), which I enjoy.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on December 16, 2009 at 1:11 AM

A most interesting behavioural image.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments