"Thanks for the Fish Daddy!"

[Michael Pancier]

Young skimmer chick happily waiting the booty that daddy fished out of the Gulf for him.

How's the crop? I always have a hard time deciding how to crop these parent/chick feeding shots since I have to cut off the rear of the parent. I was surprised to see how these tiny chicks can swallow down an entire needle fish like spaghetti. Where does it go?

EOS 7D
Canon 500 + 1.4x
1/3200
ƒ/8
ISO 400
Manual exposure
late afternoon light.
cropped to eliminate other birds and cloned out pieces of oof birds.

[Nick Palmieri]

Very cool capture. I think the crop is good, keeping the legs in was perfect IMO. I keep debating weather or not to remove the debris but after looking at yours I think its minimally distracting considering the main subjects. TFS

[Arthur Morris]

The crop here is perfect. The trick would have been for you to be two feet to your left.... How come? EXP good despite the relatively harsh light.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Nice interaction Michael. See Artie's point judging by the shadow on the wing, but it is not alway possible. This looks like breeding colour orange!!!

[Michael Pancier]

The crop here is perfect. The trick would have been for you to be two feet to your left.... How come? EXP good despite the relatively harsh light.

Yes, shoot into the direction of the shadow. My friend was in that spot. Thanks Artie

[Don Lacy]

Nice interaction between the adult and chick and I do not have an issue with the crop.

[Craig Brelsford]

I like your crop. Good image.

[Troy Lim]

Great interaction shot. Like the crop as is. Can you try to bring out more details in the blacks?

[Michael Stern]

Mike,
You got it! Wonderful Photo....:)
Congrats,
Mike

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The interaction makes this one for me. Maybe a bit less contrast?

[Sid Garige]

Excellent moment very well captured Mike.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Well done in difficult light conditions.