Larus ridibundus

[Antonio Lucio]

My first contribution.
Nikon D3s, Nikkor 500 + 1,4TC. F/9. S:1/1000. ISO:400
Thanks from Spain :)

[Paul Randall]

Interesting first post Antonio, welcome to the site:) Bird seems a little too centred with a little too much space above as well in terms of composition. Captured sharply, love the water droplets and flight pose.
Hope thats a gentle enough critique for your first post;)

[Connie Mier]

Nice timing, the water off the feet is interesting. Looks like it caught a something too. Exposure looks great to me, considering the overhead lighting you were dealing with. A bit more room on right and bottom, would improve this in my eyes.

[Antonio Lucio]

Interesting first post Antonio, welcome to the site:) Bird seems a little too centred with a little too much space above as well in terms of composition. Captured sharply, love the water droplets and flight pose.
Hope thats a gentle enough critique for your first post;)

Thank you very much Paul, just need criticism to improve my technique.

[Antonio Lucio]

Nice timing, the water off the feet is interesting. Looks like it caught a something too. Exposure looks great to me, considering the overhead lighting you were dealing with. A bit more room on right and bottom, would improve this in my eyes.

Thanks Connie, I will consider your interesting comments.

[john jackson]

Hi Antonio

For my taste your composition is spot on. You have the full reflection in the frame and the splashes are excellent points of interest; together, these prevent any crop below or above the bird. Had you waited a split second to have the head raised you may have missed the food item and would not have the interest of the water running off the feet. I like the way the bird is looking directly into its reflection, which is interesting enough to over-ride the usual 'rule' of wanting eye contact with the viewer.

The one thing I would change is to lighten the plumage highlights. I can imagine the exposure was tricky and blown highlights a real risk that would have spoiled the image. But, having successfully retained detail in the white I think you could take them nearer to white in your processing.

I'm looking forward to seeing some more of your photos.

[Antonio Lucio]

Hi Antonio

For my taste your composition is spot on. You have the full reflection in the frame and the splashes are excellent points of interest; together, these prevent any crop below or above the bird. Had you waited a split second to have the head raised you may have missed the food item and would not have the interest of the water running off the feet. I like the way the bird is looking directly into its reflection, which is interesting enough to over-ride the usual 'rule' of wanting eye contact with the viewer.

The one thing I would change is to lighten the plumage highlights. I can imagine the exposure was tricky and blown highlights a real risk that would have spoiled the image. But, having successfully retained detail in the white I think you could take them nearer to white in your processing.

I'm looking forward to seeing some more of your photos.

Thanks for your feedback, John. Indeed, the lighting conditions were difficult and whites are at the limit. I hope to improve in the next contributions to the forum.

[Arthur Morris]

Welcome Antonio and thanks for sharing this beauty. You timed thing perfectly to handle the splashes, the dangling feet, and the tiny prey item and you handled some pretty tough light well.

Where are you from?

[Antonio Lucio]

Welcome Antonio and thanks for sharing this beauty. You timed thing perfectly to handle the splashes, the dangling feet, and the tiny prey item and you handled some pretty tough light well.

Where are you from?

Thanks for the greeting and for your kind comments, Arthur. I'm from Spain, living in Cantabria, northern Spain, by the Cantábrico sea. Congratulations for this great forum which I hope to continue providing photos to improve my technique with your comments and criticisms.

[Arthur Morris]

YAW Antonio. Is this a non-breeding Black-headed Gull? (I am not too good on the Latin names.)

[Antonio Lucio]

YAW Antonio. Is this a non-breeding Black-headed Gull? (I am not too good on the Latin names.)

Indeed Arthur, you're right.