Glaucous-winged Gull - 1st winter
This was taken few days back at the Don Edwards S.F. Bay National Wildlife refuge...
40D, Sigma 50-500 @266mm
1/600 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, Exp comp: -1
Adjusted the level on the head to reduce the harsh reflected light and selective unsharp mask on the bird.
Does this crop work? Your sugesstion and feedback would be appreciated.
~ Indranil
Last edited by Indranil Sircar; 01-10-2009 at 12:17 PM. Reason: Changed ID
The crop dosen´t works for me because it is very obvious that the nice water reflection is clipped. I would love to see a wider crop including the refletion and more of the nice water splash. Love the light and bird´s pose. Very good procesing job :-)
Thank you Juan. Here is a repost... I have extended the canvas on the left to get more of the reflection...
Last edited by Indranil Sircar; 01-10-2009 at 03:55 AM.
Too bad you didn't get the whole reflection in! I also think the elongated reflected eye looks odd - not much you could have done there with just (bad) luck of the draw with the water movement causing this. Light, exposure, and sharpness look great. Water action looks good too, as well as the bubble :-)
Stunning light in this, and the gull stands out nicely against the darker BG. Pity about the reflection. I feel if you have captured a clear reflection, but have clipped it in the original take, either crop your image to leave it out, or clone it out entirely.
Thanks Stuart. One more try... this time with complete reflection (cloned the clipped portion!)
Last edited by Indranil Sircar; 01-10-2009 at 11:25 AM.
Hi Indranil. Nice sharp shot, I like the exp and the handling of the dark BG. I might have centered the composition a little bit more, but that's just me:)
As for your ID, I like that this bird is a 1st winter Glaucous-winged Gull however based on the light gray primaries, overall low contrasting tone of gray in the plumage, the large bill size and completely black bill. 1st winter Herring Gull would have very dark primaries, contrasting from the rest of the plumage and the bill would be smaller compared to the head and would not be totally black. IMO:)
Dan, thanks.. you got me thinking on this one. Actullay, the legs were pinkish in color as I captured it landing. Given dark bill could it be a pale juvenile California Gull instead?
Last edited by Indranil Sircar; 01-10-2009 at 12:04 PM.
The second repost works much better. Good exposure control, details and colors. Maybe a tad more space at the top.
I don't think so, 1st winter Cal. Gull would also have very dark primaries, contrasting with the rest of the plumage. The large bill and overall light gray and evenly distributed tone says Glaucous-winged to me. Of course, it is possible that it could be a leucistic Cal. Gull, but once again, the bill is very large looking compared to a Cal. Gull.Originally Posted by Indranil Sircar
Thanks Dan, I have changed the ID on the base note.
Good repost and excellent comments from above. Really love the action you captured in this image and the dark BG. Well done and thanks for posting.
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