1DX, 500 f4L w/1.4x, 1/2500 @ f8, ISO 400, on monopod, pp in LRCC
I've been working on my BIF skills and have taken a thousand photos of gulls over a local lake. I have had some decent success and thought this is one of the best as far as detail on the face. The bird was closing in on me, so most of the crop is from top and bottom to remove some ugly rocky coastline above. The focus point is just below the beak, but on the pics immediately before and after, the focus point is on the head or beak.
Greg, you are doing the best thing possible and that's practice, the head angle on the gull looks good, and you've handled the exposure right.
If you can I would suggest shooting handheld, it might take you a bit to get used to it but your keeper rate will go up especially on BIF.
Greg I like how the gull is coming at you and nice head angle. I also like the ominous look of the background sort of like a storm brewing with the lighter tones of the gull nice contrast.