Happy New Year and a big thank you to all!

[gail bisson]

Sandwich Terns Courting
Fort DeSoto April 2013
Canon 1DX
600mm 11
f5.6 ISO 1600
Small crop, levels, dodged the eyes quite a bit, detail extractor, USM to JPEG.
I like the rosy blush on the chest of the breeding terns.

I will be away from the boards for the next 4 weeks ( going to the Falklands for 2 weeks + 4 days travel time) and wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and say thank you to all my BPN friends for your wonderful help and thoughtful critiques during this past year. I have enjoyed seeing all of your terrific work.
I wish for all of us many perfect photography days : Up early with a good friend on a clear day with an east wind and sun at our backs, midday cloud cover to keep shooting, winds shifting to the west at 4:00PM with the sun behind us and clearing skies!
Best wishes for 2014 and I hope to meet more of you this year! Take care,
Gail

[John Rowell]

Beautiful soft colors and a great image to end the year on. Best wishes for a super grip to the Falklands.

[Bill Dix]

Beautiful shot of the Sandwich Terns, Gail. Love the rosy blush and the low angle, and the wing spread.

You've described the perfect shooting day. Hope you have many of them in 2014. Have a wonderful and productive trip to the Falklands (lucky you.)

And thank you for all of your insightful critiques during the past year.

Bill

[Bob Serling]

I agree with previous comments - a very nice shot of this activity. And the rosy blush gives this an ethereal quality.

[Robert Kimbrell]

Great colors here Gail. Nice interaction, Enjoy the trip.

[Troy Lim]

Happy New Year and get some more amazing images.

[Jim Crosswell]

Beautiful image Gail! I like the interaction, exposure, setting, IQ and BG. Have a safe and productive trip and a Happy New Year!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Same to you Gail, and have a great trip!!

I love the picture, such a seemingly sweet interaction between the two. Good techs, processing, and the pale colours of the BG are very appealing. I'd perhaps tone down the larger whitish spots near both wingtips.

[David Salem]

Nice looking shot of this courtship behavior Gail. I like what appears to be the male embracing the female in a soft looking manor. The techs look good and the detail in the whites looks nice. Well done
Thank you too for all your constructive comments and on your genuine encouraging words to all the members I see you comment on.
Happy new year and I hope you have a safe and successful trip. Cant wait to see what you get.

[christopher galeski]

very nice Gail,have a good trip and happy new year.

[Satish Ranadive]

Gail,
Excellent image of very nice moment.Love the wing spread, colors ,low angle and composition.
Have a beautiful trip and wonderful images.
Wish you Happy New Year too.

Regards,
Satish.

[Rachel Hollander]

Gail - there's an elegance to this from the interaction, the soft light and the rosy color. Happy New Year and have a great trip!

TFS,
Rachel

[ThomasChadwick]

Great image. I love the low angle, composition, and the interaction between the two.

Thomas

[Marina Scarr]

Lovely image, Gail, esp with the pink tones in the left tern and the protective, intimate pose. I tried lightening the eye area of the left bird just a tad and it really improved an already terrific image.

Thank you for all your contributions to BPN, Gail. You really take the time to comment and critique, and I am confident it has helped many a photographer. It's also been a pleasure viewing your images and see the amazing leaps and bounds that your photography has taken this year!!

I hope you have an amazing trip, and I am sure we are all going to see some spectacular images upon your return.