I really like the way these Bonaparte's Gulls take off from the water. They use their feet for a boost and produce these great curls of water behind them. Image made at Deer Island, New Brunswick.
To keep the water feature in I felt this was the best crop. About 80% of the image is left so I didn't take much away. The resulting crop has put the bird in rather an awkward place in the frame with a bit less space in front than behind. Complaints?
The other thing to mention is that the lighting has been really harsh over the past few days and was a real challenge. Just when you think you have exposed just right for the highlights on the bird, they show their underwing in full sunlight which seems whiter than white!
Date: 14 October, 2010, Time: 1049h
Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM, 500 mm, hand-held from boat
Program: Manual
ISO 400, 1/3200s, f/7.1
Exp. comp.: 0.0
Flash: off
Light, crop, EXP, wing position, and COMP all look fine to me. Well done.
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