Lesser Black-backed Gull

Thanks for your comments on my Jay image, and on my post regarding lenses. I bit the bullet and last thursday, a second hand 600mm AFS-II arrived on my doorstep! I've only had a chance to take it out properly once, and that was only for about 3 hours, so I'm looking forward to training it on Bitterns over the winter! The extra reach, and improved performance with a 1.4x TC should prove invaluable. I have to say not having VR takes a bit of getting used to, as I reckon I could handhold it for a bit if it did, but I don't mind using it with a tripod. One thing I have found, however, is that the end lens hood doesn't seem fantastically well attached when screwed in. Phil T, is this the same with yours as well?

Anyway, the exotic subject matter which my lens was confronted with was a gull at WWT London. Having said that, the light was nice, and at least it was doing something interesting.

Techs:
Nikon D300s
Nikon 600mm f4 AFS-II
1.4x TC
Resting on hide window ledge.
F8
1/1000s
ISO 250

Oscar

Unusual image & pose Oscar and love the water droplets. White on the chest looks a little blown on my lappie but could be my machine. Super inaugral image for the 600mm.....look forward to many more!

Nick.

Well you won't be handholding that setup anytime soon Oscar

Nice image BUT..............................

The gull is about to slide out the left side of the frame - unless water runs uphill down London way of course...

And the highlights are a little hot too......

You never know Andy, London's a strange place...

Is the repost better?

Oscar

Oscar you shouldhave a great time with that piece of kit,nits covered i do like the pose you have captured.

Keith.

Looks blown on my laptop too, other wise great

ian

Hi Oscar a nice image and yes the 2nd hood is cr*p on them all but they don't come off in every day use, you will soon get use to no vr it will improve your long lens skills .

Phil.

Ps don't lose the hood as they are about £300 each, the 600 works very well with the 1.7tc too.

Oscar, you could get an aquatech hood, you can flatten for travel and tighten to the lens at will.
As for the birdie, very bright breast, not sure what you workflow is but ACR and LR would let you reduce this somewhat.

To me it's still running down to the left ever so slightly Oscar....

I don't know what you use to process your RAW files, but if LR or ACR the hit the J key in LR, or click the highlight and shadow arrows on the histogram in ACR to enable the clipping warnings.

The breast of the gull would show up with red highlight clipping warnings all over it - use the controls to reduce this and attempt to recover highlight detail.

Welcome to the 600 club, Oscar. It will be good for your arm muscles if nothing else. Don't worry about the lack of VR, you should use a tripod or a good beanbag with this lens all the time. You'll soon get used to the lenshood as well.

David

Crikey a 600. when I was your age I got my first hand me down a kodak instamatic

best of luck with it Oscar and I look forward to seeing the results

Agree with AA on your image re rotation and highlights

Bob

A good first effort with a real lump of a lens, Oscar. Once again some good advice given re the processing.

Andy...

missed this, is the 200 - 400 history? hope the new lens is all you want and your bitterns start posing again

Thanks all, Phil no it's not. The 600 is not the kind of lens you can sling over your shoulder and walk through the Royal Parks with! Bitterns are there, but the best hide for them in closed until February for "improvements" (making it more beginner and family-friendly) Not sure how close Bitterns will come with the large glass windows they have in there now...

Oscar