Caspian Tern Feather Maintenance.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I was fortunate that this large tern (the largest species of tern in the world) let me gain its' confidence by slowly belly-crawling up to it for good images. It took about 45 minutes for me to advance about 30 yards...at first it always almost always ready to flee at every inch I crawled, but in the end it preened and slept from close range - confident I was not a threat. I could likely have moved up to full-frame head and shoulder images had a jogger not ran directly right behind me - spooking the tern and flock of gulls it was roosting with.
Canon 7DII + 500mm f/4 II + 1.4TC III, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/1600s., f/5.6, ISO 400, natural light, handheld from prone on the ground, small crop for comp, darkened the pupil, a couple of small dark rocks removed form the beach sand via patch tool.

[Isaac Grant]

Really nice picture with great image quality. Preening pose is nice but the story behind it is what wildlife photography is all about for me. It is what I always try and do. Get to the point where the birds are so comfortable with you that they pay you no mind. That makes the difference in not flushing the birds but also in creating quality and intimate images such as this. The only thing that I can see is in the transition zone between the lighter green and the darker green there seems to be a bit of banding or something going on.

[annmpacheco]

HI Dan,
I like this tern quite a lot, excellent IQ, especially the exposure and how the light falls on the face of the tern.

[Tim Foltz]

Daniel, super shot of one of my favorite terns, some of the blacks a little to solid but other than that very nice.

-Tim

[keith mitchell]

Lovely delicate preening pose you have captured Dan,bg is just right to make this bird stand out.

Keith.

[stuart wanuck]

job well done better then crawling in the snow in canada

[arash_hazeghi]

job well done better then crawling in the snow in canada

It's a very nice image but if you want to comment please take some time to compose a meaningful critique, what does the above mean? I don't see how it is a critique of Dan's photo

thanks

[David Salem]

We get quite a few species of Terns in my are but these are my favorites. I always like trying to get this type of preening pose with the feather at the end of the beak so well done there. The details and colors look great and I like the comp you chose. Well done

[gail bisson]

This is really nice Dan.
Terrific POV and you caught the preening of the feather at the perfect moment.
Lovely light as excellent IQ,
Gail

[Bill Dix]

Lovely light, pose and POV. Stealth and patience paid off.

[Frank Schauf]

Beautiful portrait, great details and eye contact.