Ring-billed Gull first post

[ldelacruz]

A friend told me about your site because I wanted some honest critique to get better. Thanks in advanced for your suggestions.

Ring-billed gull on East Beach in Galveston, TX.

Canon 40D with a 500mm f4L IS, 1.4 TC II handheld.

[Juan Aragonés]

Wellcome on board, I am sure that you will find a lot of fun and good advice here :-)
Unfortunately, the image doesn´t load for some unknow reason to me (?)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Welcome to BPN! You have to use the 'insert image' button at the top to link to your image. Let me know if you need help.

[ldelacruz]

How about now? Thanks for the help!

[Juan Aragonés]

This is a very "out of the box" image and I think that yout idea is good. The composition works for me but, in my opinion, the image would be much better with more room around the bird, mainly on the left. The eye contact is killer and made the image, without it this image would be not very interesting. the water drop on the back is a very nice bonus and I like the light. The out of focus sand in the background seems a bit noisy and I think that a round of noise reduction to the BG would improve the result. Your signature in the top of the frame is very distracting and I would keep only the one in the bottom. Keep them coming ;-)

[ldelacruz]

This is a very "out of the box" image and I think that yout idea is good. The composition works for me but, in my opinion, the image would be much better with more room around the bird, mainly on the left. The eye contact is killer and made the image, without it this image would be not very interesting. the water drop on the back is a very nice bonus and I like the light. The out of focus sand in the background seems a bit noisy and I think that a round of noise reduction to the BG would improve the result. Your signature in the top of the frame is very distracting and I would keep only the one in the bottom. Keep them coming ;-)

Thanks for the tips on my photo, I will try the noise reduction and see what I get.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the idea, it might work as vertical crop, too. I agree regarding noise reduction and would remove the biggest bright spots in the BG. Could you post the complete tech specs? Keep them coming!

[ldelacruz]

I like the idea, it might work as vertical crop, too. I agree regarding noise reduction and would remove the biggest bright spots in the BG. Could you post the complete tech specs? Keep them coming!

Thanks for the tip on the bright spots.

ISO 400
Manual
No flash
1/2500
f7.1
AWB
700mm

[Arthur Morris]

At the least I would brighten the iris with a Quick Mask. If you want to make a photo illustration out of it (which I do often), I would patch tool and QM, and Spot Healing Bursh away all of the white spots on the sand. Welcome.

[ldelacruz]

Thanks again everyone I will take all your critiques and re edit my photo.