Four gulls on a beach

[Hilary Hann]

I had some time to kill waiting for my son so thought I'd try and get some image of birds by the water in the setting sun. Unfortunately, the timing meant I was going to arrive too late to do much so I concentrated on trying to get some mood shots.
I kept the ISO at 100 so that I could have a long exposure time to get a silky flow of the water. The birds didn't move too much, thankfully. I think that I got pretty much what I was trying for and even if it wasn't the best capture I had lots of fun experimenting.

Shot after the sun had set.
40D; EF70-200 @ 135mm; ISO100; f5.6;1sec; spot metered manual exposure; manual focus; tripod.

PP: some levels, slight bit of cropping, unsharp mask and I lightened the gulls a fraction to lift them off the beach a bit.

[Stu Bowie]

Hilary, I think you have the right idea, but I feel the gulls are a little small. If you could do this with the gulls larger and cropping off to just the first wave behind them, it may work. Just a thought.

[Hilary Hann]

Hi Stuart, yes I wondered about that but the gulls were almost incidental. I couldn't get closer as I wasn't dressed for the beach (this was a last minute decision, i.e. we have another half an hour to wait what can we do?) but I take your point. Thanks.

[Harshad Barve]

lovely setting and light , agreed with Stuart here
TFS

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks, I don't think I'll repost though as I don't think the IQ will take the cropping. Back out there to reshoot. :)

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I like your idea Hilary. I also think the birds are a touch too small. Still nicely thought and there is always next time. Cool water!

[Paul Randall]

Agree that it would make a nicer pano crop by cutting off above the first wave. Great colours.