Indigo-black Storm Cloud Tern

[Arthur Morris]

This backlit Royal Tern image was created on 2 July 2022 at Huguenot Memorial Park, Jacksonville, FL. I used the handheld Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1369634-REG/sony_fe_400mm_f_2_8_gm.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/SO40028GM/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xSO40028GM)
the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1222777-REG/sony_sel14tc_fe_1_4x_teleconverter.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/SOTC14/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xSOTC14), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1619483-REG/sony_ilce_1_b_alpha_a1_mirrorless_digital.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/SOA1B/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xSOA1B)). The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 400. 1/8000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, (https://birdsasart-shop.com/the-rawdigger-e-guide/) the exposure was determined to be a bit dead-solid perfect. AWB at 4:43:26pm on stormy and then-sunny cloudy afternoon.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed just about perfectly.

Don't friggin' be shy; all comments are welcome and appreciated. Learn more in the blog post here. (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2022/07/03/indigo-black-storm-cloud-background/)

with love, artie

ps: the think black line on top of the far inner wing and the head are in the raw file, surely from the strong backlight.

[Paul Burdett]

Hi Artie: I'm not shy:bg3:...friggin' love this backlit image. The bird really pops against the darker blue sky (one of those images where a darker blue sky really works). Wonderful pose, minimal shadows on the bird/wings and a great head angle. I might lighten the eye a tad, but that's a minor nit pic. Glad you're enjoying the 400mm prime. Cheers.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Artie, really like the image. The bird looks good against the dark blue background. Sharp, nice colors, unfortunate that the right wing in not as nicely positioned as the left wing. Thank you for sharing.

[William Dickson]

I like the flight pose and, as Paul and Joe said, the bird looks real good against the dark BG....I would brighten the bill a wee bit, to give the image some colour pop....

Will

[Arthur Morris]

I like the flight pose and, as Paul and Joe said, the bird looks real good against the dark BG....I would brighten the bill a wee bit, to give the image some colour pop....

Will

Thanks, Will I already did that. I guess I could have done it a bit more :)

with love, artie

[Andreas Liedmann]

hi Arthur .... nice backlit effect on this one .
like the deep blue sky and the shimmer through those white feathers . flight pose is good
what bothers me is the dead looking eye ....

TFS A