Rapture: Royal Terns copulating

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created on 27 MAY 2020 at Fort DeSoto Park, FL. I used the Induro GIT 304L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and the AF KIng, the blazingly fast Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body) Exposure determined by Zebras with exposure compensation on the rear wheel: 1/1000 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. AWB at 7:22pm on a clear afternoon.

Tracking Small Flexible Spot AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and held focus on the male’s head as the birds moved quickly to my right.

To see the original, and to learn more about the creation of this image, check out the Rapture Optimized. And a relevant e-mail conversation with Fred Innamorato blog post here.

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments are welcome and appreciated.

with love, artie

[Volkan Akgul]

hi Arthur, ı am jealous. so clean, very good technic

[Joseph Przybyla]

Artie, a classic. I love the background, the position of the birds. The experession on the male is priceless. Beautiful Ft. Desoto Image. Thank you for sharing.

[dankearl]

Very cool, poses are great, details seem like you use NR on birds? Can't imagine you did.
Colors are terrific

[Brian Sump]

Not sure what's not to like here Artie. Gorgeous light, good action (literally) and clean ground and bkg.

In a perfect world maybe a catchlight or two but hardly anything critical to offer.

[Randy Stout]

Artie:

This one is all about the pose! The angle towards us, uplifted heads, wings up, great. Good shooting angle, exposure.

Someone I know would occ. comment about a horizon line in the background cutting across the subject, but your low POV softens the background so much that it is a minor point.

I bet you got dirty taking this one!

Randy

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Artie, excellent low perspective, and well timed for the action. You have the exposure spot on, both sharp where it counts, and the DOF on both Terns works well too. Glad you didnt cut off the raised wings of the male. Killer BG too.

[John Mack]

Very nice behavioral frame. Really digging that two toned background. The wings fully up is another bonus. Why is the text white at the bottom of your post?

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks all. Dan, no NR on thee birds. They look fine to me and to everyone else :)

Randy, I was only down on one knee -- working at 120mm from two feet up looks very low. I did not have time to get on the ground and if I did, I would have had the folks on the opposite beach in the frame...

love to all in these crazy times.

a

[kevin Hice]

Artie great image just pops off the screen . I first saw it on the blog and my first impression was the beach is too clean. I think we clean up the environment too much sometimes. Not much of a critique just might be better with a few shells.Back to the subject for me the male with his head held high is great along with great background colors. TFS

[arash_hazeghi]

light and interaction are both great. all looks good from here

TFS