Backlit Gull

[Stu Bowie]

I have just returned from my summer holidays with 3 weeks at the coast. On this particular morning, we were having breakfast at a restaurant in the Mossel Bay Harbour, and while waiting for the food, I couldnt resist a few shots with my short lens. It was fun capturing the gulls as they were very inquisitive hoping for tit bits.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 24-105 @ 67mm
1/2500
F/8.0
ISO 640

Manual exposure.

[Diane Miller]

This guy was close! What a wonderful shot with the light through the tail just gorgeous.

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Lovely pic, Stu - and welcome back! I was waiting on your return so you could show of some pics from your trip to the coast. This one does it for me - nice detail and the light from the back works well!

[Satish Ranadive]

Gorgeous flight shot on wonderful blue-white backdrop. Love the HA, stretched wings and fanned tail feathers.
Love the frame Stuart Sir.

Regards,
Satish.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hey Stu, glad you and Colleen had a great time, seems you did from what i've seen, didn't time fly for you? :bg3:

Like the perspective on this one and nice to see a smaller lens used, perhaps a 'Fisheye' next time, oh that was a bad one :bg3:. Good detail and I like the slight head turn, cracking backdrop, love it, makes a welcome change from blue. Is it me, but is there some 'aqua' creeping in on the inner right wing, not sure what would cause that???? Look forward to more.

TFS
Steve

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the pose and colours excellent exposure. I don't recognise the gull, any idea what species?

[Marc Mol]

Nice pose and love the light through the tail here Stuart, take this above the norm.
TFS

[Stu Bowie]

I don't recognise the gull, any idea what species?

Thanks Jon. This is a Hartlaub's Gull - a common Gull on the coasts of SA. I should have mentioned that in my intro. :w3

Thanks a stack to everyone else for your feedback.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Stu - Welcome back! Great wing spread and the light through the tail feathers takes this up a level. I also really like the cloudy and blue bg. Good idea to use the wider lens.

TFS,
Rachel

[Bill Dix]

Great flight pose with fanned tail, perfect exposure with nice details in the underwings. Nice sky bg. No nits from me.

[Richard Flack]

Super shot Stu and happy new year. Love the light through the spread tail!

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent backlit image, Stuart.
I hope you don't mind.
I opened up the mid range in the wings and body a little.
Here it is.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Karl, no problem playing with the image, and your version looks pretty good. Thanks.