This Forster's Tern image was created while coming back photographing spoonbills with James Shadle, Arthur Morris, Doug Brown, Daniel Cadieux, Randy Stout Denise Ippolito and Roman Kurywczak. I was good meeting many of these people and fellow moderators on BPN for the first time. James, thanks for the good morning.
Though I got some good spoonbill images, this was my favorite. On the way back to the dock, the terns were following the boat going after fish coming up in the prop wash. All you had to do was sit with a medium tele and snap away. Though I got many flight shots I really wanted a dive or the beginning of a dive. This one, the only one I got of a front facing dive is just perfect for my tastes. My rear facing dive got the top of Bimini top in it so delete key.
I inadvertently included Doug Brown in attendees that morning. Though it would have been great to have him, he was not there, just the other Avian Forum Moderators.
Man, I tried to get one of those banking images but came up empty-handed (lots of other flights though). Love the vertical comp, and thwe exposure is spot on.
Interesting study of the bird's head rotation in a dive, it appears to be "level" with the ground, I wonder if this is typical of most birds to keep the head close to this position, regardless of the rotation of the body.
Hey Robert,
It was finally great to meet you too after all the almosts! You did really well with the pose as they were coming fast and furious. Too bad about the one with the top in the frame....must have been the errratic driving!