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Bathtime Fun for Hartlaub Seagull

This is my first post here. Image is cropped to 50%. Some cloning to remove debris in water.
Canon 7d
100-400mm @ 400mm
manual exposure
f/7.1
1/2000s
ISO 400
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Avian Moderator
Katharina:
A big welcome to BPN. A great place to learn and grow as a nature photographer.
I like the upraised wings, clear view of the head, angle in the frame, nice catchlight.
On my work monitor, the whites look just a little hot in spots on the breast and neck, not a lot of feather detail showing there.
From a compositional standpoint, I might consider just a bit more space on top and to the right.
Looking forward to more. Be sure to comment on other folks images, it is a great way to train your eye, and also helps build our community.
Cheers
Randy
MY BPN ALBUMS
"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy" Sir Isaac Newton
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Lifetime Member
Hi Katharina, a huge welcome to BPN, and hope you enjoy the fun. Good low angle, and well timed to capture the raised wings. I agree with Randy that the whites could be toned down on the breast area, as the whites lower down look great, and with the reflection of the water.
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I reworked this image to tone down the whites and slighty changed the crop taking a bit from the bottom and adding some space at the right and top. I am not certain about the whites which are caused by the reflection of the water riples. If I tone only these down selectively I loose these reflections. If I tone down the all the whites the gull will start to look grey. What is your opinion?
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Lifetime Member
Hi Katharina, its difficult to expose white subjects perfectly all the time, and the angle of light also plays a part. Manual is the way to go, as you have done, and your repost is much better. There is a slight yellow cast to the whites - so reducing a bit of yellow by desaturating the yellows will help, and working from your original will work better too. There is nothing wrong with your reflection on the body of the gull, and in your repost, there are no blown whites.
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Thank you Stuart for pointing out the yellow cast on the whites. I have tried in Selective color Whites to desaturate the Yellows and see big improvement. Your tip is appreciated