Least Tern on eggs

[Isaac Grant]

Photographed this attentive Least Tern at Nickerson Beach on Long Island a few weeks back. This was about 30 minutes before sundown on a beautiful and cloudless evening. I was trying to get a shot while the parent was settling in and had the feathers fluffed up but also get the eggs still visible. I have lots of shots of this bird as it came and went from the nest. Have many shots of it looking at me with perfect eye contact but I like this shot as it was looking down at the eggs and making sure they were OK.

Canon 1DX and Canon 500 f4 ii + 1.4x iii. ISO 1000, F 6.3, SS 1/3200. I needed to keep my shutter speed high as the bird would run in from behind some foliage and get onto the nest really quickly. That also helped to keep the whites nicely exposed. I chose to leave a little of the yellow cast on the bird as it was in really warm evening light and I think removing all of that would not make a realistic photo.

Processed with DPP 4.6 and PS.

[Randy Stout]

Issac:

Like the story, as well as the photo. Good choice on the pose. Lovey subject isolation.

I might be tempted to crop a bit off the top, perhaps 10-15% of the free space. Purely personal taste however. The gaze downward would help that crop work well, I think.

Cheers

Randy

[Isaac Grant]

Thanks Randy. I went back and forth on that issue many times in my own head. Typically I like to stick to the shooting ratio and if I cropped some off of the top then I would have been too tight on the right. Of course I could have just taken some off of the top and not worried about the ratio. Eager to hear what others have to say but I agree that it would be better.

[John Mack]

Very nice really like how the bird stands out with the low angle. Nice light and detail as well.

[Alex Becker]

Nice one Isaac. I like the DOF nice light and of course the pose with the eggs peaking out. I like this HA more than some of the more classic HAs as it does show the emotion well. I often go through the same struggle of keeping the ratio vs removing negative space and usually settle on the ratio so I'm okay with the crop here. Detail looks great throughout. TFS

[Bill Dix]

These are such beautiful little terns. I love the downward look, and the fact that you have part of the egg showing. Good light. I wouldn't mind a touch more DOF, but as you were trying to keep the SS high, you might have had to push the ISO higher than you wanted. I also usually try to keep the 3:2 ratio, and it has been suggested to me on many occasions that I might have taken a little off the top or bottom. I've come to the conclusion that sometimes, at least for web posting, a non-standard ratio might be preferable; but of course it's all a matter of personal taste.

[gail bisson]

The IQ on the tern is stupendous.
Love the whites and the bit of egg that is visible.
I like this crop but agree that a version with a bit off the top would look nice as well,
Gail

[Mike Poole]

Very very nice simple shot with great light, wonderful details and the extra interest in knowing what she is doing, good work Isaac,

Mike

[Arthur Morris]

Love the low perspective and the sweet light. Not many opps at Nickerson for this species over the past few years.

[Isaac Grant]

There are not any at Nickerson this year but they are actually just west of there at Lido Beach. If you are heading there again this year let me know and I can give you exact directions.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Isaac. I am heading for Galapagos a week from Sunday so I will not be visiting Long Island this summer.

with love, artie