I will die today...

[gail bisson]

Northern Gannet
Canon 1D MKIV
ISO 400
f 9.0
SS 1/320
F 500 and 1.4X convertor, HH, cloudy and foggy afternoon
Almost FF
While walking the beach I saw this gannet on the sand. I knew immediately he was injured and assumed it was a broken wing. A sad event but a natural one. However, on closer inspection he had 2 deadly wounds- a 3 pronged lure on the right wing and a compound fracture/avulsion of left wing. The poor thing probably dove after a fish and once again, we humans, are the cause of suffering and death in animals.We suck...
I will post the image of the injuries in the next post and if the mods feel it is inapproprite then please remove it.
Comments and critiques always appreciated and learned from with thanks,
Gail
PS we did try to effect a rescue but failed.

[gail bisson]

Here is a shot of the injuries

[Bill Dix]

Hi Gail. I suppose it's no consolation to say that the image in the first pane is just gorgeous. Ultra low POV and superb BG. I just read a post of an Egret snared in monofiliment at Brigantine NWR, and I share your revulsion at these senseless losses.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gail, first your OP. What a fantastic perspective and a great HA from the Gannet. You have also exposed the Gannet so well, sharp, perfect colours, and just placed so well in the frame too. A killer BG to round off a fine image.

We wonder how humans can dig so low and cause injury to harmless birds and animals, and its so sad to see these things first hand. Thanks for sharing this, and I know you would have tried your best to save the Gannet.

[Ofer Levy]

I like the low angle and eye contact. Needs some mid-tones adjustment IMHO. Sad story.

[PhilCook]

All too common sadly, I've rescued and rehabilitated dozens of birds, and other animals in exactly the same predicament, what a terrible slow miserable way to die

Love the first shot, nice soft pastel colors and low angle work nicely

[Sanjeevprakash]

Nice exposure and Low angle shot,Gail.Nicely executed.

[gail bisson]

I tweaked the levels a bit but not too much as the day was foggy with light mist,
Gail

[MarioHorvat]

I know it's non of my business, but you could try using less comic font on your images.

[adrian dancy]

What a cracking image. Superb depth of field and isolation, graduation of colour and the blending of the FG with BG. Despite the trauma the bird seems very content. It is incredibly sad to know that the bird was so badly wounded and it is made worse knowing it was done by the hand of man. I guess this is an image you may return to every once in a while, and in a way, it gives the bird a sort of vicarious lease of life, if you know what I mean.

[Grace Scalzo]

Well imaged, but a pathetic tale.

[Tin Man Lee]

Very sad to hear the story. Fantastic photo. Love the low angle and smooth beautiful background. The face of the gannet was so calm yet induce emotion.

[Satish Ranadive]

Gail,
Gorgeous image.
Initially,when I saw the image I did not read the story but I feel some painful expression in his eye may due to the pose of bird.
Don't know when people will learn to treat birds also with love.
Sad story.

Regards,
Satish.

[Frank Schauf]

Excellent shot with very nice soft background, Gail.

[Giuseppe Varano]

Very nice soft tones and good low angle, the repost works better Gail. Really a sad story.

[Richard Mc Donald]

Your shot apart Gail (that I like), is it our fault that we fish to put food on the table to provide for our family and a bird such as your Gannet sadly mistakes the lure? Not a statement but a thought for discussion.

richard

[Daniel Cadieux]

That first image is actually quite nice considering the situation. Aesome comp and BG. Are those insects crawling on the body?

I know it's non of my business, but you could try using less comic font on your images.

Hi Mario, although your opinion about the font is ligit please let Gail know what you think of her image(s) too! Do you like it or not? Why?

[arash_hazeghi]

A great image and a sad story. I like the bugs (ants?) that are climbing the bird. I guess they know what's gonna happen next...

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the low angle, composition, sharpness and BG. Unfortunate circumstance for the Gannet. Excellent image Gail!

[Ken Watkins]

Gail,

In all honesty I really wish you had not given the background to this image, but in reality we need to be told., and try to bring attention to the awful results of our desire for fish. The only thing I can add is that the care sometimes being taken down here is resulting in less devestation of the Albatross.