Oops

I visited a wetlands area fairly close to the Johannesburg International airport yesterday. It is an area frequented by flamingo's and a lot of grey headed gulls. Although there were a lot of fly bys, I went for the incoming poses as they touched down. Cloned out another gull on RHS of frame.
My title is based on the slight mud splash that was created by the touch down.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300 F/2.8 + 2X TC ( borrowed for the morning )
1/2000
F/6.3
ISO 640

Exp comp + 0.33
Hand held

What wonderful timing, and a great reflection. The splash is the icing!

The clean BG and smooth FG are amazing!

Dramatic! I would also echo everything Diane just stated. Love the grey tones of the underwing. Your title fits very well. Love the amount of color you achieved in this image.

Nice capture Stuart,sharp with good detail,nice light,the mud splash a bonus.

Hi Stuart,
This is nice and "different".
I like the details in the whites and the landing pose. Like you, I really like the mud splash! The reflection is nice and I think a pano without the reflection would hold its own as well!
I would clone out the specular highlight on mud below the chin and white spots on the mud ( minor, minor nit)
Gail

Looks great Stuart! Lovely pose, excellent reflection, and great colours. Of course, the splashing mud is a great element here! The only thing I would touch on are the blue streaks in the reflection in LRC...I'd remove those for a cleaner finish

I like the image, and the splash. Where did you go for the picture? I live in Alberton, would like to go there. It does not look like Marievale. Ben

Stuart Sir,
Excellent image of landing gull and it's reflection with great IQ.
Love the wing position,eye,colors,nice details and mud flash and it's shadow on gull.
Beautiful composition too.

Regards.
Satish.

Thanks a stack for all the feedback and kind words everyone.

Very nice pose and reflection!

Excellent stuff Stu, great pose and reflection. I also love the soft light, gull's eye and a bit of mud is nice too.

stuart:

The thumbnail doesn't do it justice! This is a very fine image, encourages my eye to move around and check out the details, but coming back to the subject. Excellent timing, sharp, well exposed.Perhaps in a truly perfect world, a bit less of the largest clump of mud on the left, but even that serves a purpose, to help balance out the birds mass.

A very fun one to ponder.

Cheers

Randy

lovely one the composition is superb , i love the action here
splash adds a lot

One of your most recent bests for me, Stuart.
great IQ, the Gull is very attractive and the mud is a cool effect.
perfect comp also for me.

Excellent wing position, nice reflection and the PP work is flawless, Stuart.

wonderful image! great comp with excellent IQ & setting. the splash take the image to an other level.

Love the pose and the reflection. The techs look great and the detail is all there. Great looking BG and the splash adds an extra element to the shot. Well done with a more common subject.

Great shot Stu, love the pose and mud, the foreground reflection and muted background enhance the image, excellent stuff!

Works well Stu I like the pose, reflection and colours. Great angle you got here.

This is stunning....love the light and reflection.

Thank you all for the kind words and feedback. Always appreciated.

Excellent warm light & nice wing position. I like the reflection & mud splash.