DEVIL GULL, or, Shoot into the sun

[Jack Breakfast]

A charming and beautiful woman to whom I was not very nice because I had a low opinion of myself and was threatened by her plucky confidence (a youthful mistake on my part, I've since learned) once told me: "Shoot into the sun!" Was it good advice? Sort of. I imagine she didn't mean: "Point your lens and eyeballs directly at a hot and unforgiving ball of fire!" but rather something more like this: "The honeygolds make silhouettes and they can be beautiful." All of that is neither here nor there and I suppose this is the wrong place to get silly. Onward: this devil gull was snapped just yesterday. I doctored it a little bit afterwards with some contrast and vignetting and levels. That said, what you see here isn't exactly day-and-night from the original. I turn this picture over to you for your thoughts and ideas and suggestions. Many thanks for your consideration...

[Judy Howle]

Beautiful silhouette Jack!!

[Cheryl Slechta]

Jack, it looks more like an angel to me It's a beautiful pose and silhouette.

[denise ippolito]

Jack, I love the water colors and it is a beautiful silhouette. I might put this one dead center if it were mine. The feet dangling makes this special.

[Paul Lagasi]

Nice work, water color is very nice...good wing position, fanned tail and as Denise said dangling feet make for a solid image...TFS

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Jack, lovely colors and nice silhouette. Ditto on the bird dead center.

[Jack Breakfast]

Many thanks folks...I'll certainly do that, it's a good idea.

[Arthur Morris]

Ditto all the positives. Do the dead centerers wish for a crop from the top to a perfect square??? What species? Ring-billed?

[denise ippolito]

Ditto all the positives. Do the dead centerers wish for a crop from the top to a perfect square??? What species? Ring-billed?

Yes, I would take a small amount from the top as well as put the "bulk" of the bird dead center in a square comp.

[Jack Breakfast]

Arthur, you charming rogue, will you enlighten me now and forever: why the distaste for the perfect square? As a medium-format enthusiast, I have been and will remain a big fan. Also, I find the shape most pleasing, aesthetically speaking. What's the downside?
Yes, this is a ring-billed gull. Here I only have access to them and the occasional herring gull and the VERY occasional white-winged or black-backed...I was admiring your picture of that California pond. It looks like a magnificent place to shoot...I'll get over there some day...