Dinner on the Go

[Tim Foltz]

Canon 1DX • 700 mm • 1/2500 • f/6.3 • ISO 500 • handheld • manual

Western Gull affectionately call "Octogull" for its uncanny ability to catch octopus. Here is one poor octopus tying to make its getaway to no avail.

Thanks for looking.

-Tim

[Isaac Grant]

Super cool prey item you have here. Exposure looks nice to me as well especially since the sun was not at your back. I would have preferred a lower shooting angle but I get the feeling that was not possible in this case. I might try to loosen the crop a bit more on the left, right and above and see if I could include the whole shadow and give equal room above and below.

[Tim Foltz]

Super cool prey item you have here. Exposure looks nice to me as well especially since the sun was not at your back. I would have preferred a lower shooting angle but I get the feeling that was not possible in this case. I might try to loosen the crop a bit more on the left, right and above and see if I could include the whole shadow and give equal room above and below.

Thanks Isaac, the shot was cropped tight to show more emphasis and detail on the octopus, and you are right this was shot from a rise across a narrow channel
to a protected area on the other side.

-Tim

[arash_hazeghi]

speaking of exotic meals this tips tops the list, I like the moss covered rock as well. was the gull able to fly with the octopus?

[Tim Foltz]

speaking of exotic meals this tips tops the list, I like the moss covered rock as well. was the gull able to fly with the octopus?

Thanks Arash, yes the gull did fly sometimes with the octopus, usually to an area he can dispatch the critter and swallow it whole.
Over a 2 or 3 year period I've seen this gull catch an octopus at least 10 times. When and if I'm there at the right moment and it's close enough I get in a shot or 2, some are smaller and some are huge
taking 30 minutes or more to kill and gag down.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Great shot Tim you have excellent plumage details. The prey is something I have never seen a gull take before so it makes for a really interesting shot.

[David Salem]

Nice shot of Ocogull. If the IQ holds up I would crop even tighter, maybe removing part of the body, to concentrate us on the unique meal at hand.
Well done