Black Skimmer

[Axel Hildebrandt]

This is one that I made at Nickerson earlier this week. There were some high clouds.

1D4, 500f4, 1.4x, 1/1600s, f/6.3, ISO 400, manual exposure, cropped from horizontal

[Doug Brown]

It's all about the right kind of light with the Skimmers, and you had great light for this shot. Nice sharpness and eye contact. The fish is a plus. What sets it apart for me is the BG, although I'd be tempted to remove the gray spot in front of the upper wing.

[arash_hazeghi]

good light and BG Axel , nice wing position too, great that he has a fish, wish the fish was a bit larger!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

good light and BG Axel , nice wing position too, great that he has a fish, wish the fish was a bit larger!

Thanks, Arash! The Skimmers have very small chicks right now and the size of the fish is perfect for the little guys. Sometimes the parents bring longer needlefish that the little ones can hardly swallow.

[Arthur Morris]

Superb as noted above. Have you witnessed any of the skimmers killing skimmer chicks and dropping them in the ocean? (I will be at Nickerson a bit in mid-August and hope to see you there then.)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Superb as noted above. Have you witnessed any of the skimmers killing skimmer chicks and dropping them in the ocean? (I will be at Nickerson a bit in mid-August and hope to see you there then.)

Thanks, Artie! I haven't seen this myself but heard those stories. Most of the skimmers nest further back this year. Mid-August should be a good time to see the young birds practice skimming. It would be nice to meet there.

[Ilija Dukovski]

Great one, great work with the shadows....

[Stu Bowie]

Excellent exposure Axel, and I like the flight angle. Good sharpness, and the skimmer stands out so well from the BG. His catch adds a nice touch. Well captured.

[James Salywoda]

Fabulous composition Axel beautiful shot.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Axel, this is so perfect. The exposure, BG, pose, sharpness....liked everything about it.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Stunning composition with a beautiful BG. Great flight pose and excellent exposure and of course the fish tops this off. Fine work Axel !!!:)

[Joe Senzatimore]

Light was perfect for this subject and the Bg is very complimentary as well.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I like the fact that the fish's far side is hanging low to give us a glimpse of its face. Excellent image!

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Axel, I echo the comments of those above - beautiful work :)
Best,
Nicki

[Troy Lim]

Excellent image, sharp details and great BG.

[Troy Lim]

Superb as noted above. Have you witnessed any of the skimmers killing skimmer chicks and dropping them in the ocean? (I will be at Nickerson a bit in mid-August and hope to see you there then.)

I never saw them dropping them in the ocean but I witnessed some poking the chicks with their beak. Cruel..

[Gal Shon]

Superb timing and so beautiful.
Well done.

[Kiran Poonacha]

WOW, loved the image, nice eye contact, great pose, details are good and the fish adds greatly... very well done Bhai..

[Austin Thomas]

This has everything Axel. Well done.Bird and head angle, catchlight, BKGR, fish in beak.

Excellent.

Austin