Least tern with Breakfast

[Lyle Gruby]

Shot this guy in Bolivar, TX. Big thanks to Sidharth for helping me get to the right location while I was down there. This was right after sunrise with lightly diffused golden light because the sun was behind a few thin clouds. I was shooting shore birds in a tidal pool when several terns began fishing all around me. Due to their small size and only 550mm in focal length, they had to get very close to start filling the frame. I finally had to switch from my homemade groundpod to handholding because the terns were so erratic. It was a great challenge and an even better experience. All C&C always appreciated.


Techs:
D3S
200-400 with 1.4 at 550mm HH
f/5.6
1/3200
ISO 800

[Faraaz Abdool]

Hey Lyle - fantastic shot of the tern grabbing a meal here. The droplets and flailing fish are definite pluses here. It seems as the tern is angled away from you ever so slightly though. One question though - with a 1.4 on 400mm won't you get 560mm?

[Lyle Gruby]

Thanks Faraaz. The terns stayed angled away most of the morning. The only environmental element not in my favor was the wind! I inched my way until I was actually in the tidal pool a little bit to get a better angle on them. About the TC--that's the way the math works out, but according to my metadata I was shooting at 550mm. Theres a chance I moved the zoom ring a touch while holding and moving around.

[Faraaz Abdool]

Ah, Nikon - that's why I can't figure out the math!

[Lyle Gruby]

Ah, Nikon - that's why I can't figure out the math!

Yeah Nikon sends us all special calculators!

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Lyle, the tern pops nicely from the water BG, especially the bill and feet. The catchlight in the eye adds, and you certainly captured a great wing position. Comp wise, I can see this as a vertical, coming in from both sides.

[Randy Stout]

Lyle:

Good comments from the guys, and I do think you have several cropping options here. I would certainly try a vertical, and could also see a sig crop from the left and enough below to keep it from getting too square.

Exposure is nice, like the yellow feet and bill as a punch of color. Prey a plus!

Cheers

Randy

[dankearl]

Lyle, nice image, but you should have gone with the D800.
You could have had a close up here.

[PhilCook]

Nicely times and looks quite sharp...how does this stand up to a tighter crop

[christopher galeski]

nice capture,like the water drops and pose,agree about trying a vertical.

[Lyle Gruby]

Lyle, nice image, but you should have gone with the D800.
You could have had a close up here.

The only problem then would be that I'd only have 1 or maybe 2 shots instead of 4-5!