Ring-billed gull at eye-level

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

40D. 400f5.6 at f/7.1. iso 400. 1/3200. early morning light. no flash.

The distracting black dot is wing tip.

All C&C welcome.

[Stu Bowie]

Kaustubh, I really like this low angle, and would be interested in how you achieved it. Were you in the water? Good head turn, and just love that eye. This is sharp, and I like the blue BG. I would maybe take a bit off the bottom.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

No Stuart, I was not in the water :) just lying flat on a boat ramp...pretty much at the water level. Actually...I could have gone lower all the way to the water level....but then the horizon would have intersected the bird.

[Julie Brown]

Kaustubh, I like the angle of light on the face and the sharpness of the eye. It really draws you in to the photo. The early morning light and the calmness of the water is very peaceful. If this were mine I would not crop more from the bottom because I think the reflection helps to anchor the image.

[Dave Leroy]

Lovely looking photo. it has a very calm, peacefull feel to it. Water is very well done, and I also like the idea of a bit of a crop. I wonder how a pano crop would appear. Dave

[Myer Bornstein]

I like the picture as is I would not crop

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Simply beautiful. Love the composition and superb eye contact as well as the low angle. Very nicely captured. thanks for sharing.

[Gal Shon]

I like the calm water and the reflection of the water on the chest.
very good angle, light and eye contact as well.

[Danny J Brown]

Hey KD - Fantastic shot of a ring bill - I really love these guys as they provide infinite possibilities for great images. Eye is intense. Nice.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Thx everyone.

Danny, as you must have guessed by now, I am working a lot with these gulls in my neighborhood. You are right....they have indeed given me ample opportunites to try out different compositions, different shooting angles, light angles, BGs etc.

[RAM MALLYA]

Lovely DOF and low angle shot very sharp on the eyes.