Fulmar (Shetlands again)

[Gordon McKechnie]

Another of my shots from the Shetlands. I quite like the "environment" nature of the background in this, but perhaps it is distracting?

Canon 50D
100-400mm @ 400m
ISO250
Manual exposure f5.6 & 1/2000
Slight cropping only

Suggestions/comments regarding composition also welcome - I wasn't entirely sure about whether the bird's position works

[Thanaboon Jearkjirm]

I also like the environment in this one too. The OOF cliff and waves add to the story while not taking attention away from the main subject. The bird itself looks to have good exposure and sharpness with good pose. The composition is fine by me since the OOF rocks help balance the image. I really like this image a lot, TFS.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Gordon, I like it also. The bird looks sharp and the lighting looks good to me. The background has an almost surreal feel to it which I like. You should check out the OOTB forum also. If you do any artistic filtering work this would be a great image to try it on - you'd get lots of ideas there if you're so inclined.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Gordon, I like the basic image but have to disagree about the big patch of white water in the center. My eye just gets pulled there and away from the bird. Would also love to see this "flying dustbin" flying into the frame instead of out. Colors and detail are excellent and a nice flight capture to be sure.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Gordon,
This is very unique, I do not often see this perspective, for that you get an A+ from me. As Kerry noted, the white water hurts the image and placement could be better IMO, flying into the frame. Placement is in fact composition and this is real close to being over the top. Keep it up, you have a good eye and the tecks look solid - keep em coming.

[Gordon McKechnie]

Thanks all for the helpful comments

[Marina Scarr]

I have to say that I really like this image. I do not feel as though the dark cliffs take away from your subject. I feel they help to tell the story, as does the surf. You broke a rule here by putting the bird flying out of the frame instead of into the frame, frame, but it works in this case. I find it to be a dramatic environmental photograph, and it also tells a story.

[Paul Guris]

I am another in favor of the background, but I have to disagree that the white is particularly distracting or in the wrong place. The tail is gray and it's in the white, so you have some contrast. Ditto for the right wing. The head is white and it's in the blue, so you have some contrast there as well. Ditto for the white feather bases showing in the left wing.

For me this is a great twist on a bird in habitat shot. Less white in the background and it would fail to be habitat anymore. It would just be a blue mottled background. More or repositioned white and the bird's head would blend with the background too much.

[Richard Mc Donald]

Gordon. as much as I like the shot I find there's something not quite right about it and before I read your comments I decided the Fulmar's position allows my eyes to bounce between the bird itself and the cliff in the background (hate useing the word "distracted" as it's become a cliche' when critiqueing).

Love the downward looking angle on the subject that we don't get to see much of.

Do you have any other shots in the series where the Fulmar is closer to the cliff?

Richard

[Stuart Laughton]

This works wonderfully for me as a composition. Yes, my attention is divided between rocks and white water vs. bird, but I feel this enhances the duality of a bird serenely at home in an incomprehensibly hostile environment—an environment that is front and centre in this photo. Also, I love the bird flying out of the frame, as if to say "yeah, I live here and this is just a normal day."
At a photography auction I would doubtless significantly outbid the others. (Dang, I can't seem to find my checkbook just now...)