Inca Tern (PERU)

[Alfredo Fernández]

Shot this a month ago..
these guys where awesome, you could get as close as you want!

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Nikon D300s / Nikkor 28-70mm F2.8 @45mm F4 / ISO400 / 1/250 / Handheld - Manual Exposure
Full Frame. Standart PP in Lightroom 3
hope you like it,
Alfredo Fernández G.

[Randy Stout]

Alfredo:

What a color full bill and gape, pretty flashy for a tern!

Good look back pose.

A lower shooting angle would be more flattering, but probably not possible here.

A touch of fill flash would have opened up the face some.

Cheers

Randy

[Bill Dix]

What a beautiful tern. Thanks for sharing this one. A bit more head-turn might have put a little more light on the side of the head, but sometimes they just don't listen.

[Daniel Cadieux]

What a great bird! If not for the ID I would have thought this was something more from the guillemot or auk families!! Sriking pattern and I like the calling pose you got. I too wish for a lower angle, but like Randy I realize that wwas likely not possible unless risking a nasty dip into the ocean :-) You could work the current faint reflection at the top part of the eye with the dodge tool to make it more visible and give more life to the subject.

[Dan Behm]

Alfredo,
A beautiful species, I never would have thought Tern either, Great exposure given the angle and conditions. Fill flash would have really helped here and a lower shooting angle, but as others said likely impossible. The open beak calling pose, head angle and backside view and crop are all terrific. very well done!

Dan