Gannet hovering

[Steve Kaluski]

Not ideal, as the Gannet is moving away, too big in frame (IMHO), plus having the head touching the wing, but I thought this might be a little different with the sea crashing below? The Gannets at this location, not Bempton would launch themselves off and with the updraft, just hoover for a few seconds, then turn and dive. Ideally the 300/f2.8 with the 1.4 would have been better, but again a trade off trying to second guess, oh for the 200-400 then. Difficult to try and control the whites & darks, however the right wing, furthest away just must catch some light as this is as shot, no lifting of the shadows.

Not a location if you suffer from heights, but just great to be out there and even to watch.

Thanks to those who posted a reply or looked at the previous image.

Steve

Subject: Gannet on uplift (Morus bassanus)
Location: UK
Camera: Canon MKIV
Lens: 500f/4 HH Gitzo tripod/Wimberley head
Exposure: 1/1250s at f/8 ISO400 -0.33 stop compensation

[Joe Senzatimore]

Well done. Just wish the head was lifted up a bit.

[Alan Murphy]

Great exposure control here and a dynamic flight pose.

[dankearl]

Wicked pose, Steve.
I wish the entire BG was dark…..

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Steve, certainly a different gannet pose from the norm - works for me. Exposure looks great, and love the concentrated stare, and the gannet pops nicely from the darker BG.

[keith mitchell]

Steve sounds like a good place to be, you have some incredible detail in the whites and the pose you caught looks great.

Keith.

[Jamie Douglas]

It certainly looks like a windy day and great feather detail considering the wind. Size in frame isn’t an issue for me given the level of detail to look at.
.

[Holger Leyrer]

Size in frame isn’t an issue for me given the level of detail to look at.
.

Dito.
The exposure is excellent. I wish the BG was darker in the left bottom Corner.

[Arthur Morris]

Head angle be damned that is one rockin' pose. So dynamic. SH and EXP perfect. I could do without the other bird. All in all super dramatic.

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks guys, Artie if I'm correct in my thinking it's the sea that you are referring too rather than another bird.

[David Salem]

Cool pose and I like the detail and exposure control. A better HA would be better but sill a nice shot. Well done

[Matthew Briggs]

Good to see it on a dark background to bring out the most in the subject, excellent bird in flight pic.

Thank you kindly for sharing this with us ^.^

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

I really like the pose Steve. It is quite different and makes up for the ha for me. I'm not sure about the bg . Love the feet too. I thought the crashing wave was an oof bird and felt it was a little distracting.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Steve,
i agree with yourself about the image , but i still like it, great IQ and i am all the time fascinated by your sharpening techniques .
Looking at the image i think there is a warm cast running across the image, do not know if you wanted it that way, but the whites are looking murky.
There is a gap on RHS in the histogram, so you did not go to the limit regarding the whites, think you did not want to blow the whites.

I took the liberty to address the issues , minor ones, WDYT? Did i go too far?

Cheers Andreas