Common Murre/Guillemot

[John Chardine]

I was trawling through images made last summer and found this one that I had never processed. I remember the circumstances well in this case. I was half-way down a cliff trying to juggle cameras, the 500/4 and tripod without falling off. This is a Common Murre or Guillemot at plot CM-6 at Cape St. Mary's, Newfoundland.

Not much done other than a crop and sharpen.

Canon EOS 50D, 500/4
capture date: Wednesday, 3 June 2009, 11:27 AM
exposure program: Aperture Priority
ISO speed: 400
shutter speed: 1/800
aperture: f7.1
exposure bias: --0.3
metering: Pattern
flash: OFF

[Alfred Forns]

John would love to see a picture of you going down those cliffs with all the gear :) ... can be dangerous !!!

Sweet intimate pose, love the orientation and overall feel !!! Lots of detail at both ends !!!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the pose, head angle, details and eye contact and might crop even some more at the bottom.

[Dave Leroy]

Interesting pose. Looks like the bird was also wondering what you were doing with all the gear. I might also take a bit off bottom. Dave

[John Chardine]

Thanks to all. Dave- "CM-6" is a study plot we use to monitor murre and kittiwake breeding success. We crawl down to the vantage point and sit with binoculars. The birds do not know we are there so long as we remain quiet and don't move much (the last part is really easy!). This bird was preening and I happened to catch it as it looked up.

[Dave Leroy]

Wow! Not only is a beautiful looking spot, it is also a dicey looking spot to get down to! Dave

[John Chardine]

We have a rope and tie-offs! "Health and Safety" don't ya know!