At Gail Bisson's Request

[Arthur Morris]

Western Gull with wings raised (after bath). Morro Bay, CA. Tripod-mounted Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-5D Mark III. ISO 400.Evaluative metering -1/3 stop: 1/2500 sec. at f/7.1 in Manual mode. Gitzo 3530 LS tripod with the Mongoose M3.5 and the 4th GD low foot.

Don't be shy; all honest comments welcome.

[Jack Breakfast]

Ah, gulls. I spend a lot of my time around gulls and am always delighted to see a well-executed gull shot. Great details, particularly in the underwings. Prior to joining this forum I never gave a 2nd thought to a bird's head touching its wing while the bird was at wingflap. Which is to say that I'd like this shot even more if the gull's head wasn't "attached" to its right wing. I hope I'm explaining myself properly here. Do others feel the same way, or am I perhaps being fussy for what you might call "the wrong reasons"? Many thanks.

[Arthur Morris]

You are not but I understand what you mean. In this case with the bird's head pretty well framed by the far wing I am OK with that. Had the base of the far wing been spread a bit more widely so as to totally frame the head that would have been even better.

[Jack Breakfast]

Thanks, Arthur. A fine explanation, and it's much appreciated. Glad you were able to sift through my jumbled ramblings...

[Arthur Morris]

YAW Jack. It is one of my most refined skills :).

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

I like the wings up as well.Detail on the wings is great

[Jack Breakfast]

Took me a while to translate YAW, btw: it means "You are weird", right?

[dankearl]

Nice wing shot of this gull in what looks like pretty windy conditions.
Looking forward to meeting you in May on the day trip to the Oregon Coast.
Here's hoping for Nice weather!

[Arthur Morris]

Took me a while to translate YAW, btw: it means "You are weird", right?

Yes. Very weird actually. I always say "You are weird" when folks say "Thank you."

[Arthur Morris]

Nice wing shot of this gull in what looks like pretty windy conditions. Looking forward to meeting you in May on the day trip to the Oregon Coast. Here's hoping for Nice weather!

Very windy; see Frozen and Battered (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2012/04/02/frozen-and-battered/). "Rewarded" will be coming soon. Where do you live? How far from Tualatin?

[dankearl]

Arthur, I live in Portland, 30 minutes from the refuge which is actually in Sherwood, Oregon.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks and super. How do you think we will do with shorebirds at the coast? Where do you usually go photographing?

[Karl Egressy]

"That's a nice one" heard behind my back as my wife walked by. She was right.

[Arthur Morris]

Please thank her for me the next time she walks by :S3:

[dankearl]

Arthur, I go to Ridgefield NWR a lot, and just around Portland, but go to the coast occasionally.
The weather at the Oregon coast is really a crapshoot most of the time. I hope we luck out in May,
but I would bring rain gear!
It is beautiful and the birds and wildlife are plentiful.
I hope to meet other local photogs, like Don Nelson, who I have never met.
I am signed up for the coast trip as well as your seminar at the refuge.
It should be a fun and informative weekend.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Dan. I look forward to meeting you. I met Don at the Klamath event last year and he joined us on the recently concluded Morro Bay IPT. He is a really nice guy and a very skilled photographer.

[Arthur Morris]

ps: how is Ridgefield in May?

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Fine shot, Artie. the subject angle is great. loved the flying droplets and the underwings.

[Frank Schauf]

Excellent Pose and light, good exposure control, nice comp.