Black-Backed Gull vs. Skate (dead fish)

[Dave Blinder]

Recent shot from Sandy Hook, New Jersey



Shot in Av Mode, 500mm f/4 + 1.4tc

Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 1/2500 sec
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 700 mm
ISO Speed: 320
Exposure Bias: +1/3 EV

[Daniel Cadieux]

Man, this is a very intimate view of the scavenging behaviour. Great low angle. I don't mind the cut body, but I think you could have pointed your lens a little bit more to the left or more room behind the leg and a bit less empty space at right. Image may need a bit of CW rotation. Lastly, I would eliminate the OOF debris in the BG. You did well to want to photograph this scene :-)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the idea, eye contact and angle. I agree with Daniel regarding composition and might sharpen the bird a bit more.

[Harshad Barve]

amazing shot , lovely compo and details , techs well covered by Daniel and Axel
TFS

[Stu Bowie]

The low angle works well, and good to his catch. The gull looks like a Juv Kelp gull in South Africa, but do turn black in maturity.

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Dave: Neat close-up of gull behavior at a nice low angle. Thanks for sharing.

[Dave Blinder]

Thanks everyone, I wasn't sure where the best spot to clip the bird's body would be. Unfortunately, this is not a crop so I can't "add canvas" to the left. I'll have to work on my judgement for situations like this.

I have other frames of the gull biting and pulling at the skate, but I was thrilled to get just one shot where the skate's tail was pointed upwards!