Great Black-backed Gull Feasting On Common Goldeneye.
I was in my car when I came across this scene. I took a few from my car then decided to chance it out and go for a lower angle by stepping out slowly. Good decision as the gull was concentrating on the meal and pretty much ignored me. It only last a few minutes as the river's current carried the scene out of good photo range, but I had already taken a few good images. Fun stuff!
Canon 7DII + 500mm f/4 II + 1.4TC III, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/1250s., f/5.6, ISO 800, natural light, handheld, small crop for comp, deepened the blacks and bumped the saturation a bit more than usual due to the properly exposed but rather washed-out files.
Hi Daniel. Well spotted...glad you were able to exit the car and take the shot. Nice low angle. The birds do seem a little soft to me?...so used to your tack sharp images.
Very neat frame of this behavior. Did the gull scavene this or kill it? The low angle is nice. I like the soft light brings out the detail nicely. Bet your glad you got out of the car.
Hey guys, thanks! What I forgot to say is that there was a good mist rising from the water, which did indeed impact the sharpness. Glad you guys caught that lack of usual crispness!
Well captured Dan...Not often one gets the chance to photograph this behaviour. Yes, these Great Black Backed Gulls are super predators over here as well. I have witnessed them taking Puffins. Well done on photographing this behaviour.
GBBGs are f'ing beasts, and this is an incredibly unique shot of their killing power. Glad were were able to get out of the car to get this; I think you did as well as you were going to given the impromptu nature and horrible lighting.