White on white: Ring-billed Gull

[Daniel Cadieux]

Hope I still don't have to post too many winter images, but I thought these fresh breeding plumaged birds looked so good against the snow. This guy was not nervous at all and just sat there for the longest time. The gull actually looked quite bright compared to the snow and I opted to leave so (could have toned it a bit down but preferred it as is). I sat there with it for a while, with the difference being that I left with a wet and cold behind:o ( and a numb leg)!! One of the last images created with the XT before being relegated to backup duties.

Canon Rebel XT + 100-400L @400mm, 1/1000s., f/8, ISO200, +1 EC, handeld.

[Steve Maxson]

A very attractive image, Daniel. Good exposure on the whites and nice sharpness around the head. We have a number of these birds here now, as well - standing around on the ice waiting for spring. Hope you have warmed up successfully. :)

[Jim Poor]

Nice. Was the bird sitting on a slight slope or is the image rotated slightly? Lots of detail there and some of the snow crystals look like pepper sprinkled on the snow from the way they cast light & shadow. Cool!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nice. Was the bird sitting on a slight slope or is the image rotated slightly? Lots of detail there and some of the snow crystals look like pepper sprinkled on the snow from the way they cast light & shadow. Cool!

Thanks Jim! The bird was indeed sitting on a slight slope. You can see how on the right (bird's actual left) that it is dug in deeper in the sloped snow.:)