Herring gull

[Jonathan Ashton]

Canon 1DX Canon 500mm f4 L IS II, ISO 320 Manual.1/2500 f7.1
Another shot from The Farne islands

[Steve Kaluski]

A good catch for the Gull Jon, nicely time by both of you.

Any more room below, I just think it's a tad top heavy, WDYT? Not sure if there is some 'manipulation' going on behind the Gull, but if so, I might be tempted to also soften the white area just under the chest, assume it's another pesky Gull? I think you could get some more from the legs, feet and also some of the plumage, even add a hint for saturation?????

Going that little bit later has meant for chicks for the gull I guess.

TFS
Steve

[Arthur Morris]

Plenty of room below for me. The o-o-f WHITE thing below the breast was bad luck. I love predator-prey images. I always root for the predators :) It's better for the photos and, the gulls gotta eat too. The gull's head and the murre chick look a little bit dark/dirty/grungy ???

with love, artie

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks Steve Artie, I took several dozen shots there was always something in the way, I could never get a "clean" shot even after 20 min or so. That is why the chick and gulls head look mucky, the chick was dead but somehow the gull couldn't manipulate it properly to gulp it down so it kept tossing it around.

[Steve Kaluski]

I took several dozen shots there was always something in the way

Would going tighter with the 1.4 have helped?????

[Jonathan Ashton]

Would going tighter with the 1.4 have helped?????
Definitely not this is full frame and as you may recall the scene is very crowded with birds but also humans making it difficult to get the right angle or position no chance whatsoever of getting the image from further afar. Going in with the 100-400 & the TC would have helped but I would probably have found it difficult to get the focal point in place and recompose quickly enough as the gull was constantly moving about.

[Steve Kaluski]

With the angle you have, plus the 1.4x on the 500 you would have more head & prey and I would say a quicker bit of kit compared to the 100-400 with the 1.4. Just a thought. :S3: