Well, This Image WAS Created with a Macro Lens...

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created at 10:42 am on a partly cloudy morning at Great Gull Island Project, NY, with the hand held Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS macro lens (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/647011-USA/Canon_3554B002_EF_100mm_f_2_8L_Macro.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CA10028LMIS/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCA10028LMIS) and the and the Canon EOS-1D X (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/827036-REG/Canon_5253B002_EOS_1D_X_Digital_SLR.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CAE1DX/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCAE1DX). ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3 as framed: 1/125 sec. at f/10 in Av mode.

One sensor above and one to the right of the Central Sensor/AI Servo/Rear Focus Single Point AF on the bird’s left eye was active at the moment of exposure. Click here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2011/09/13/rear-focus-tutorial/) if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

For the complete story, see the "Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro Lens for Cute Blonde Chick???" blog post here (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2014/07/29/canon-100mm-f2-8l-is-macro-lens-for-cute-blonde-chick/).

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments are welcome. Microscopic and LAB color analyses are not necessary :)

[Steve Maxson]

Hi Artie. This is one of your shorter "macro" lenses. :S3: Excellent sharpness and exposure and I like that we can clearly see the egg tooth. I think the image would be stronger if you could have gotten a more eye-level shooting angle (which would require lying on your belly - probably not feasible in the midst of a tern colony). The brightness of the ULC is tending to draw my eye. If this were mine, I'd be tempted to crop from the top to remove some of that bright area.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Steve. I would have liked to have gotten down on the ground but there was too much vegetation in front of the nest. I agree on the ULC--I have already toned it down quite a bit. It was really bright in the ORIG.