Black Skimmers/midair squabble

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created on DAY II of the 2016 Nickerson Beach IPT with the hand held Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM lens (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1081814-REG/canon_8404b002_ef_400mm_f_4_do.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CA4004ISEFM2/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCA4004ISEFM2), Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/732113-USA/Canon_4409B002_Extender_EF_1_4X_III.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CA14XEF3/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCA14XEF3), and the rugged, blazingly fast, autofocus king, the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with 64GB Card and Reader (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1221604-REG/canon_0931c016_eos_1d_x_mark_ii.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CAE1DX2K/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCAE1DX2K).

ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop: 1/1600 sec. at f/6.3. Center AF point/AI Servo Expand/Shutter Button AF as originally framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding). The image as presented is a vertical crop from a horizontal original. After expanding the canvas, I repaired two tiny clipped feathers.

As for the image, please do not be shy; I would love to hear what you think of this image.

Learn more about this image on the blog here. (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2016/07/21/400-do-ii1-4x-iii1d-x-mark-ii-hand-held-flight-photography-how-did-the-old-man-do-well-id-say/)

a

[Bill Dix]

Great action captured, with near perfect wing and tail positions. Well exposed. Looks like you had a great day. Noticeable halo between black heads and wings and the background sky, easily corrected if you are so inclined, although I think this is a natural occurrence with that kind of contrast.

[Robert Kimbrell]

Nice acton Artie. Whites and exposure look great. Good timing to catch the open beak, it adds to the action. Good position on both birds and also like the tail spread on both. I agree with Bill on the halo. Have a great time at n

[arash_hazeghi]

lovely interaction and pose with good exposure, the small size doesn't do justice to this frame, wish you could post larger. I might feather the mask around the birds to kill the halo

you must be loving the 400 DO

[Jonathan Ashton]

Wow that's good I love to see the detail in those feathers and the two in good focus also. Beautiful colours and pose, don't get much better than this.

[Tim Foltz]

Artie, super shot, love the action, slight halo. I know how fast these birds are, good grab.
It reminds of the good old days at Bolsa Chica when you used to see such interactions.
Thanks for bringing back the memories.

-Tim

[Glenn Conlan]

Love the action and perspective of there interaction, I don't think I have ever seen them do this

[Arthur Morris]

Love the action and perspective of there interaction, I don't think I have ever seen them do this

Thanks Glenn. On warm afternoons at Nickerson this behavior is repeated too many times to count. The problem this year is that the researchers moved the original colony ropes back much farther than in previous years...

a