Learning to Think Like a Pro In The Field

I spent a few hours a the end of Pier Avenue in Jamesport, NY waiting for the adult Iceland Gull that never showed up. I did some work with the Ring-billed Gulls to pass the time. This image was created with the Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens and the EOS-1D X. 3532LS CF Gitzo tripod with Mongoose M3.6. ISO 400. Evaluative metering off the sky +2 1/3 stops off the grey sky.

Click here to learn to see the situation and to think like a pro in the field. Lots of folks commenting are confused by exposure....

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments welcome.

Excellent image Arthur! I like the sharpness, DOF, exposure, wide open bill with tongue, perch and composition.

The best photo you have posted recently for me.
Sharp as can be (I think I see tonsils!) and nice light and a really cool perch.

A sharp, clean, simple image. Crop and BG are perfect. TFS

Nicely composed! The exposure and the tone are perfect. I especially like the the expression.

I learned something new today - getting low to the subject eye level is not always the best if the background is not what you want. Thank you Artie for sharing many tips with us.

Great pose and pov to look down the throat. Perfect techs and exp as always.

TFS,
Rachel

Thanks to you, I have learned to see the interest and beauty in gulls. This one is lovely, and you did a good job including the post without making it look ugly. As for metering, I would just spot meter off the gray (no comp) or off the white of the bird and add a stop and a third or maybe 2/3. (and check my histogram) Many ways to skin the cat.

Any bird is magic to me. Gulls especially so.

What makes this image special is the open mouth and the detail in the gullet, especially considering the bright tones elsewhere. I imagine some dodging was needed in post to bring this detail out.

If you want Iceland Gulls you need to come to the Maritime provinces of Canada in the winter- they are our commonest winter gull.

Gull is an excellent subject, especially when you have one posing nicely and opening its beak.
All I can say, this is a great image, Artie.

Artie:

Sharp, well exposed, great view of the mouth.

For personal taste, might like a bit more of the rock showing.

Cheers

Randy

Hi Artie, I can hear the call of the gull from here - I miss listening to the sounds of marine birds. Great IQ, light and exposure, and well timed to get the open beak and show of the tongue. I too, would have liked a little more room below.

Love the pose, the exposure and the bg, Artie. Before reading Randy and Stu's comments, I too felt that this image could benefit from some more room below. Guessing it isn't a natural perch?

Excellent image. Handsome gull, and the open mouth detail is great. You also did a nice job of minimizing the presence of the man made perch. One consideration for this image would have been to use a little fill flash for just a bit more snap in the lighting. Another thought is that a bit of a head turn away from you (to the gull's left), would have rendered the tongue in a slightly better profile, as well as perhaps creating a bit of separation of the lower bill from the chest of the bird....minor stuff, but food for thought. I enjoyed the BAA blog write up/responses on this image.

Excellent image,good exposure,sharp,magic detail in the mouth,like the light,for my own taste,I would like a bit more perch.thanks.

Love it, I really like the wide-open beak, perfect composition, exposure and sharpness.

Colin

Gulls in this plumage are always fun to photograph as you can see by your capture. I love the bright orange that they get around their eyes and bill.
This is a good lesson for many about studying the surrounds for possible images before giving up thinking there are no good images to be had.

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Originally Posted by christopher galeski

Excellent image,good exposure,sharp,magic detail in the mouth,like the light,for my own taste,I would like a bit more perch.thanks.

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Thanks Chris. Before you wish for "a bit more perch" best to click on the blog post link and see the situation :S3:.

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Originally Posted by Mike Veltri

Gulls in this plumage are always fun to photograph as you can see by your capture. I love the bright orange that they get around their eyes and bill. This is a good lesson for many about studying the surrounds for possible images before giving up thinking there are no good images to be had.

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Thanks Mike. I like gulls in any plumage! These guys will actually get a lot brighter over the next 2-3 months. There is an image of a nice sub-adult in flight image at today's blog post, "Exposure Confusion and Misconceptions Clarified" here.

Artie:

After my post, I did go to your blog post and saw the delightful perch, so understand your cropping choice.

Cheers

Randy

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Originally Posted by Shawn Zierman

Excellent image. Handsome gull, and the open mouth detail is great. You also did a nice job of minimizing the presence of the man made perch. One consideration for this image would have been to use a little fill flash for just a bit more snap in the lighting. Another thought is that a bit of a head turn away from you (to the gull's left), would have rendered the tongue in a slightly better profile, as well as perhaps creating a bit of separation of the lower bill from the chest of the bird....minor stuff, but food for thought. I enjoyed the BAA blog write up/responses on this image.

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Thanks Shawn. I am fine without the use of flash here; personal taste. I have several images from moments before with the bird in profile but the mouth is not opened as wide. That's why I chose this one to optimize and share. Do check out today's blog post here for lots more exposure lessons. Most folks do just not get it....

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Originally Posted by Sidharth Kodikal

Love the pose, the exposure and the bg, Artie. Before reading Randy and Stu's comments, I too felt that this image could benefit from some more room below. Guessing it isn't a natural perch?

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Click on the link in Pane #1 to see the situation and learn about the post :).

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Originally Posted by John Chardine

Any bird is magic to me. Gulls especially so. What makes this image special is the open mouth and the detail in the gullet, especially considering the bright tones elsewhere. I imagine some dodging was needed in post to bring this detail out. If you want Iceland Gulls you need to come to the Maritime provinces of Canada in the winter- they are our commonest winter gull.

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No dodging, just Detail Extractor from NIK Color Efex Pro. It is magic. Click here to save 15% on all NIK stuff by typing in the code BAA at checkout.

Thanks all for their comments. Those who wished for more perch are invited to click here and see why more perch would not have been advisable :S3:.

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Originally Posted by Loi Nguyen

I learned something new today - getting low to the subject eye level is not always the best if the background is not what you want. Thank you Artie for sharing many tips with us.

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YAW Loi and thanks for both your membership support and your kind words.

So THAT'S how it's done. Stunning portrait, your exposure is just perfect and I love that glimpse into the mouth, the tongue sticking out, the composition. And I like the educational post on your blog about how you got this.

:S3:. Thanks Mel! Today's post was even better!

Superb shot!!!
Just love the wide open bill, exposed very well, excellent details,and great background.
Very well done.

seen the blog Arthur,and understand now about the perch.thanks.

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Originally Posted by Arthur Morris

No dodging, just Detail Extractor from NIK Color Efex Pro. It is magic. Click here to save 15% on all NIK stuff by typing in the code BAA at checkout.

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The question was really about whether the mouth detail was brought in in post-processing. "Dodging" as you know is just one of many ways to do this. I use and like NIK Color Efex and use Detail extractor. I like the preset so long as, like here, the results are not obvious.