Forster's Tern

[Indranil Sircar]

This was taken over the weekend. The terns were diving and coming out with fish. This was just as it jumped out of the water with some kind of invertebrate (can't recognize what it is) coiled in its bill.
The settings were -

40D Sigma 50-500mm @ 313mm hand held
1/3200 sec, f/5.6 EC: 0 Mode: Av Metering: Evaluative ISO: 800

I probably could have gone with a lower ISO. Applied NR to the background, rotated the canvas and used selective sharpening and then usm.

Your C&C will be appreciated.

~ Indranil

[Kobus Tollig]

Great one here. Image looks a bit skew and bg got a bit of noise. Great one well done

[Juan Aragonés]

I agree with Kobus about the noise. I like the light angle, the prey item in the bill, the wings position and the great head turn. Very good exposure job by the way :-)

[Indranil Sircar]

Thanks for the feedback... here is a repost with one more round of NR on the BG and also smoothened the pattern on the water.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Amazing light, natiral moment, pose, exposure, colors and head turn. Congratulations!

[EdNguyen]

Nice shot, Indranil. Good exposure not to blow out the highlights. Did you take this photo in Alviso's Wildlife Refuge?

[Fabs Forns]

Lovely repost and great to catch him at the right moment. EXP and sharpness excellent!

[Stu Bowie]

Excellent exposure, with a great eye. I like the posture, with a good head turn. His catch a bonus.

[Mike Lentz]

The re-post is very nice, good PS work! I like the fact that he's got a fish and is coming right at you.

[Jan Wegener]

I am not sure, whether I like th repost beter, cause the BG almost looks too soft...To see some more detailed water patterns makes it more realistic.
Anyways it's an incredible flight shot, cause the bird is coming towards you and still has eye contact.