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Riding the Updraft - Fulmar

Discussion

26 replies
Posted by Andy Astbury on May 15, 2008 at 7:02 PM
One from Bempton yesterday.

Not being very aufait with sea birds I was like a kid in a toy shop but I'd calmed down by lunch time.

Now I've seen Fulmars before but never really given them much attention, but once Guy had pointed it out to me at close quarters it suddenly became my joint favourite sea bird up there with Gannets.

Got some very close shots with the 800mm - but this is my favourite, so I hope you like it.

What a masterful flyer this bird is when you watch it closely - manoeuvrability isn't the word.

Techs
D300 + 120-300 @ 135mm
ISO 400
1/1000th @ f8
PP Bibble Pro & CS3

Thanks to Guido Rogers for the company, the ID and the smallest cup of tea I'd ever seen:biggrin:

Thanks for looking folks :toast: :toast:
Posted by Alan Bryant on May 15, 2008 at 7:22 PM
Awesome image Andy :toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Tim Munsey on May 16, 2008 at 3:19 AM
Ah so you made it then, fulmarks for this, looking forward to more.

Tim
Posted by Alan Woolnough on May 16, 2008 at 3:26 AM
Same thoughts as you Andy, when i first saw them...............i could watch them all day!!

Would love a similar shot, and do prefer the cliff bg, to sea/sky.

Great hanging pose, and pin sharp detail :toast: :toast:

Alan
Posted by Matt Cole on May 16, 2008 at 3:39 AM
lovely shot, I've never had the pleasure of seeing them.

Matt
Posted by Dave Bartlett on May 16, 2008 at 3:45 AM
Great shot Andy and the bg really makes it. About six weeks until I go up there for the first time .. can't wait :toast: :toast:

Dave
Posted by Tim Munsey on May 16, 2008 at 4:49 AM
Dave's keen on going to Bempton.
Posted by Andy Bate on May 16, 2008 at 4:49 AM
lovely stuff mate, i need to go there!!!
Posted by John Chapman on May 16, 2008 at 5:24 AM
Hi Andy great stuff with plenty of detail in the plumage.
John :toast:
Posted by David Kjaer on May 16, 2008 at 5:35 AM
Hi Andy

Cracking shot of what Fulmars do and the OOF cliff and sea in the BG add to the image a tad tight in the frame for me but that is personal and a very minor nit!

David :toast: :toast:
Posted by Dave Courtenay on May 16, 2008 at 5:49 AM
Lots going on in this image-the bird looking at something, The Cliffs, The sea ,The pose-love the feet-Great image

Dave :toast:
Posted by Stuart McCrae on May 16, 2008 at 9:38 AM
That is a great image,the bird really pops well and super sharp :toast:
Posted by Paul Thomas on May 16, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Nice image Andy. They seem to ride the updraughts just for the fun of it.

:toast:

Paul
Posted by Paul Inglis on May 16, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Hi Andy,

Awesome image!
:toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Nigel Blake on May 16, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I don't mind it being tight in frame, good detail in the plumage and in general a great shot with that OOF cliffs and sea BG, but as a monor nit, I think I would prefer a little more eye contact with the bird.
Posted by John Robinson on May 16, 2008 at 12:47 PM
The whole shot works very well for me. At least the bird is looking back into the frame.
Good one Andy.
JR
Posted by Robert Lawrence on May 16, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Very nice Andy. Great shot.
Posted by Paul Hillion on May 16, 2008 at 2:27 PM
What a cracking shot Andy, you get a real sense of movement with it. Looks very sharp and perfectly exposed :toast: :toast:

Tim's comment above made me lol projecting coffee all over my desk...thanks Tim :smile:

Andy as you know I'm maybe planning on visiting Bempton when I'm over in June - can you drop me a line when you get chance as I'd be interested on hearing on how long it took you to get there and any advice you think I should know once there. Cheers mate.
Posted by Edwin kats on May 16, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Yep, awesome image Andy. Still like that lens? I bet you do.
Well done on this flightshot.

Edwin Kats
Posted by eric weight on May 17, 2008 at 3:33 AM
Fabulously detailed shot Andy. If I had to point at something, I would wish that you had pressed the button 2 milliseconds earlier so that the whole bg was that lovely mottled cliff colour as I find the cliff-edge running down behind the bird a bit distracting. Tiny nit, but I have to work hard to find any in your recent shots. :wink:
:toast: :toast: Eric
Posted by tony flashman on May 17, 2008 at 4:01 AM
I would be very happy with this. I have these birds a few hundred yards from where I live and have yet to get a shot I like!

Tony

Posted by Ian Andrews on May 17, 2008 at 5:08 AM
Nice one Andy.
I can get my own back here, as we have a couple of pairs that nest down the end of the road! :wink:

Ian :toast:
Posted by Guy Rogers on May 17, 2008 at 6:04 AM
Hello Andy.

A good day and a top image to come away with. If I had to picture an image of a Fulmar then this one would say it all. :wavey:
Posted by Neil Kristiansen on May 17, 2008 at 7:47 AM
Hi Andy,
I was at Bempton on Thursday as well-got there at 6.30am when there is no-one around. I live in East Yorks so its local to me and i've been twice this year and the one disappointing thing is the distinct lack of Puffins now :confused: I left about 11am and saw a couple of Photogs at the northern viewpoints although they both had Canons so not you then!!
For anyone else going to Bempton soon the Gannets are all on eggs now and should have young in the next 10 days or so.
By the way nice shot of the Fulmar by the way!!

Neil Kristiansen
Hull
Posted by Nick Caddick on May 17, 2008 at 8:12 AM
Great image well done :toast:
Posted by Barry Southon on May 17, 2008 at 8:21 AM
Andy

What a great shot, I'm really getting into these flight shots so difficult to emulate but that's the challenge.

Barry :wink:

Eastbourne / Kansas
Posted by Magnus Hird on May 18, 2008 at 3:31 AM
Nice pose and the BG colours complement the fulmar well :smile: