Preening Laughing Gull

Gallery: AvianPosted March 28, 2011109 views18 comments

This was taken on my first morning in FL at Fort DeSoto SP. It was a quiet morning bird-wise, and lots of photographers were complaining about it. Virtually everything around was new to me though, so I wasn't picky about what species I wanted to shoot. I lay down in the sand and worked with a flock of Laughing Gulls for a while. The feather in the bill made this one for me.

Your comments and critiques are appreciated. Please view the larger version if possible.

Canon 7D, 500mm + 1.4x TC, lying on ground

1/2000, f/8, ISO 400

Crop to 62% (11.1 of 18MP)

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on March 28, 2011 at 10:13 PM

I love the contorted body position that you have captured, Brian. And I agree the feather in the bill is great. Beautiful lighting and great job on the exposure. This is a great image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Levin on March 28, 2011 at 10:25 PM

Brian, Matt has pretty much said it all. I just find the pose totally awesome. What a fantastic looking gull. Congratulations on this beautiful shot.

Registered on April 24, 2009, 21 Posts, 184 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 28, 2011 at 10:30 PM

I love it. Wonderful light; great pose; excellent details.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 28, 2011 at 10:31 PM

Just beautiful... incredible detail and an awesome position for the bird to be in showing off it's stunning beauty (for a gull anyway) Those reds pop so well and the way the wing feathers are pointed makes it look like an elegant dancer

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 29, 2011 at 1:12 AM

This is exceptionally nice!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 29, 2011 at 2:13 AM

Love this pose! Really nice detail throughout, and great light.
What intrigues me is the white, symmetric feathers on the lower dark wing - they look painted on, they are so perfect.
Wonderful image!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 29, 2011 at 2:38 AM

Awesome preening photo Brian

Great perspective, wonderful light and excellent feather deatil.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 29, 2011 at 3:59 AM

Wondewrful preeing pose, and techs are spot-on.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 29, 2011 at 7:20 AM

Beautiful shot Brian. Oovely soft light and those white 'stars' on the primaries are intriguing. Nice low angle agian.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 29, 2011 at 9:52 AM

Love the textures and colours of this one, and the fact that you laid down in the sand to acquire the optimum perspective Brian, and well done for making the most of whatever Nature chose to share with you, while others were left moaning in the wake of your apparent success :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 29, 2011 at 3:02 PM

Brian, I like how everything points to the left on this...cool comp. How long did you spend in Florida? I have never ben there, but can only imagine the number of birds....maybe the photographers you ran into just don't understand how good they have it when it comes to avian photography there......maybe they should come spend a winter in Colorado to appreciate it more

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 29, 2011 at 9:42 PM

Lovely lighting and the preening pose make this one for me Brian

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

Comment posted by Ken Canning on March 29, 2011 at 11:13 PM

Outstanding image, beautiful light, congratulations!

Registered on February 10, 2004, 88 Posts, 549 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 30, 2011 at 8:45 AM

I love this gull image. I especially like the white feathers on the lower wing. Normally they look more like just "dots" but this image makes them appear like tiny detailed fleur de lis.

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

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on March 30, 2011 at 12:39 PM

Great image, Brian. Love the detail you captured. The preening pose is very interesting. I really like the shells on the beach and the blue water background.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on March 30, 2011 at 5:16 PM

Fantastic pose; it seems it was saying: "I told: you got to go in that direction ..." . Details, framing are ok, and that feather is the shot: maybe you can try to make it pop a little more.

Luca

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on March 31, 2011 at 5:41 PM

A simply stunning capture Brian, congrats.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 1, 2011 at 12:13 PM

Wow, Brian excellent shot, just now saw this one, what a interesting gull with the feather colors and good timing to get this pose, great job in handling the contrasting feather colors, wonderful image, the low perspective really makes this shot, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments