Bathing Silver Gull

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

One of the most common seabirds around the coast in Australia. Well east coast at least, still very photogenic as far as I am concerned and a good subject for any sort of bird photography practice.

I caught this fellow at a Sydney Park while looking for a pair of inland birds (Crimson Chat) that showed up in the big smoke (Sydney) quite unexpectedly. I saw them too and managed a few images.


30D,300mm f/4L IS + 1.4x, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/3200th, almost full frame, 430EX and beamer, not sure if I need a slight CCW rotation??

[Jim Poor]

Very nice! I really like all those clear water drops flying about.

I might remove the bit of vegetation on the lower right, at least the bit just outside the roughest part of the ripples.

[Arthur Morris]

Good EXP, nice head angle and splashes, and ditto Jiim on the lrc.

[Nate Chappell]

Really neat behavior you captured well with a good exposure here Akos, I would crop a bit from the bottom if it were mine.

[Marina Scarr]

Hi Akos: I think I agree with removing the vegetation in this instance b/c it doesn't enhance the picture. I also agree with Nate on the crop. If there were a better reflection, I would feel otherwise. You have captured some wonderful action/behavior here. It's amazing how waterproof these birds' feathers are that the water just rolls off of them. The ruffled feathers by the bill is another plus. Thanks for sharing.

[Simon Bennett]

Good work Akos - I like the frozen action, eye contact and fabulous churn of water.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thanks for the constructive feedback. I quickly cropped it tighter, eliminating most of the vegetation and reducing space above and to the left. What do you think now? I couldn't QM or clone the little veggie in the bottom.

[Tony Kirkby]

Nice work Akos. The repost works better.

Very common on this side of the country also.
I was photographing this species at the weekend but at this time of the year they have lost the red bill and legs of the breeding plumage so become very plain.

Tony

[Leo Berzins]

A delightful, well exposed image, Ákos. I much prefer the original post because I don't find the minor vegetation elements distracting and, for me, they add a little bit of context.

I agree that these birds are beautiful in their own right and much under-appreciated (no doubt due to their successful adaptation to, and consequent behaviour in, populated areas).

[Ramon M. Casares]

Water is such a terrific plus in these type of images, I love the textures it gives to the shot, great action, great pose, great exposure control, terrific detail and lovely and stunning moment! COngratualitons Akos!