It took about 45 minutes of slow belly-crawling to get close enough for for portraits. Well worth the effort, and this individual became accepting of my close presence and let his guard down. These guys have become rather regular during fall migration at this spot close to my home.
Canon 7DII + 500mm f/4 II + 1.4TC III, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/1000s., f/10, ISO 400, natural light, handheld, about 80% FF, usual eye work, some white specks removed from the crown, minor bill clean up.
You did well compositionally at a difficult distance. Or maybe a bit more off the right and the top. EXP and SH right on as expected.
with love, artie
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Was this at Petrie Island? The Caspians have eluded me thus far over there, so maybe it's time to make a return trip! No nits from me at all; exposure is bang on, beautiful detail in the feathers, and the deep blue background really makes him stand out.
Robert, yes, I was going for tight portrait. I actually wanted to get 3-4 feet closer to the subject but it finally got spooked by a jogger.
Jake, yes indeed, Petrie Island. These guys have become regular there in the early morning during August the last couple of years. Look for the loafing Ring-billed Gulls, they mingle within them on the beach, and sometimes also hang out on the rocks just beyond "the point".