Herring ? Gull

[Dave Woeller]

I have recently been encouraged to get lower on some of my shots, so while this isn't the most colorful of birds I can say that I did a bit of groveling to capture him :D The beach may be a bit cluttered, but kind of shows where the bird is normaly found. All thoughts and guidance appreciated.

Canon 40D
100-400 @ 400
F/11
1/1600 sec

[Bruce Gove]

It's always a good idea to get down to the same level as your subject, Dave. And you're right about the clutter - pretty distracting. You're on the right track Dave. Keep it up :)

Cheers,

Bruce

[Lance Peters]

Hi Dave -

just been doing the same thing myself. you shot this at F11, If you had of dropped it back to 5.6 or even less - you may have blurred some of that BG out some more, the white highlights are distracting. I would also add a bit of CCW rotation.

Like were you were heading - keep them coming :)

[Katie Rupp]

Hi Dave, I can't help you with identifying the gull, they're way too hard for me. Looks like you had some harsh light which didn't help but you did get the low angle.

[Julie Kenward]

Good for you for getting down and suffering for your art! I agree with the others...the bird is wonderful - well composed and good head angle; you even got some nice details in the bird itself. The lighting and the surrounding area (FG & BG) just aren't doing it for me, though.

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Dave its a young Herring Gull

This is a good example of what can be done laying flat on the ground. It would smooth out the bg into something beautiful. The gulls head would be with an all blue bg Do give it a try !!!

Other than the angle remember the sun angle. As presented is from the hard left and giving you a strong shadow behind the eye and back of the bird !!!

[Dave Woeller]

Thanks to everyone for your time to help. I agree with all comments. As I've stated before I have come here to learn and you are all to be commended for putting up with my current skills. Hope it all starts to come together soon.

[Arthur Morris]

Lots of good advice above. You needed to get right down on the beach to eliminate the breaking wave, but you were in the wrong place to begin with... In bright light it is almost always best to point your shadow at the bird; here you are working 90 degrees off of light angle...