Herring Gull Portrait

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Not exactly the rare bird of the year but he posed so nicely and I liked the eye.



1D3, 500f4, 1.4x, 1/2000s, f/9, EC -0.67, ISO 400

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Beautiful portrait Axel with good exposure and execllent eye contact and detail in the eye. The detail on the beak is also superb. The feather detail is excellent but seems to taper off towards the back. The dark BG makes for a most striking image.

[Grace Scalzo]

I too like the eye, the bill, and the bg. Perfect whites, nice comp. You took the ordinary and make it extraordinary.

[Randy Stout]

Axel:

Perfect head position. It looks like the light was just off your right shoulder, which gives a little modeling to the torso, which really adds to the 3D effect. The eye is a killer. A picture like this, despite being of a very common bird, really reinforces why we do this. These are beautiful creatures.

Randy

[Fabs Forns]

The dark BG with vignetting really works here, bringing the bird out, well done.

[Scott Grant]

i think this is a fantastic image for a few reasons! the exposure is perfect, the background is creamy smooth and compliments your image very well......and that eye!

just fantastic Axel!

[John Chardine]

I like the eye too Axel! Lovely image of a great bird. Really like the deep blue BG colour and the colours of the bird against it.

[Grady Weed]

Nothing like the whites done right. The red eye and yellow ball, even the iris and veins are visible. Simple yet elegant. Nice clean beak and clean markings. Excellent comp and positioning of the subject in frame. Even has a catch light.

[Philip Pietri]

Awesome portrait, Axel. The details in the white are great and you're right - that eye is amazing. Tack sharp too. Love the dreamy blue background. Not much to nit here. Wonderful image, thanks for sharing.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Wow Axel, this is a stunning looking bird.
Love those colors on bill and eye, excellent sharpness and exposure.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Exposure, light, detail, and that terrific eye are just priceless!! Big congratualitons!!!

[Bonnie Block]

Perfect portrait. Axel. Great depth of colors, and of course --fantastic details.

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

I guess not only a rare bird can make an image perfect. :)
This is representing it. Awesome details and sharpness.

Szimi