Mating Least Terns

[rajandesai]

Another one from Mike's workshop along with Gail and Melissa. This was taken at the end of the day, while walking back to our cars. The light was perfect, the sun was behind us.
It was nice to watch the entire courtship and mating ritual. Just before mating, they turn their head from side to side. This pair kept doing that for really long time.
Our initial reaction was - "Too bad, they were facing the other way". But when I looked at the shots from that action, I really liked the back view. What do you think?



Canon 1D4 | 500mm + 1.4x | ISO 800 | f/6.3 | 1/1250
About 35% cropped | NR applied in LR | basic processing using LR4 and CS6

Thanks you for looking. Looking forward to your comments, suggestions.

Rajan

[Arthur Morris]

I do like the pattern of the male's wings and much of the BKGR. The darker lumps left of the birds and in the llc are distracting. Could you have moved 90 degrees to your right???

[gail bisson]

Hi Rajan,
I really like the perfect symmetry of the male's wings. You were perfectly aligned! The light was gorgeous that evening and you captured it to perfection.
I like the unusual perspective and the criss-crossed tails.Shows the exact moment of copulation! I just wish we could see the female's head a little bit higher off the ground.
I don't know how you feel about cloning but I would get rid of the clumps of sand to the left in mid frame.
Well done,
Gail

[PhilCook]

Great timing with the wings there, natural artistry, the soft late afternoon light is rather nice, a most unusual image, very nice

[Melissa Groo]

That wing position is pretty glorious, Rajan, and you have certainly caught the moment of moments! I have a series of these that I am fond of, and though I do miss seeing their faces, I can't seem to delete them. The light was really special.

[Grace Scalzo]

Light is nice, but the backside view isn't cutting it for me.

[Ishmeet Sahni]

Superb image, love the light and specially the position on the wings of the Male.

[rajandesai]

I do like the pattern of the male's wings and much of the BKGR. The darker lumps left of the birds and in the llc are distracting. Could you have moved 90 degrees to your right???

They were changing their position very often and unfortunately facing this way when they actually mated. Since I had wader on, I could have moved 90 degrees to my right, but just that there was not enough time.
Thank you very much for providing your thoughts.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Rajan, great low angle, and I do like the wing position of the mail. Good detail and I like the light. A little more room on top will work.

[rajandesai]

Thank you all for looking and providing your thoughts. Your feedback was very helpful. Initially I was in 2 minds about these shots, but have come about to enjoy - even though the eye contact is missing... I have another shot where head of the female is more visible but the wing position on the male is not as pretty as in this one... :(
Melissa - I can't throw these shots away either... somebody needs to invent that 360 degree photoshop filter
Gail - I can photoshop those clumps of sand... may be later.

Thanks once again for your valuable input...

[rajandesai]

@Stuart - yes, I wish I had little more room on the top. Unfortunately I didn't. I had to crop from the bottom to balance the composition, hence the little narrow crop...

[Marina Scarr]

The symmetry of the male wings helps make this work, as well as seeing the side of the female face with that killer low angle. These are the types of images that many photographers are NOT taking and hurray for you for pressing your shutter. I would leave the rest of the image as it. Easy to add space on top if you are ever so inclined.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Although I agree the male's wings look great and offers some appeal to the image I must admit I am not loving the birds' angled away from us. The techs are perfect, and comp good for what it is.