Gull dropping mussell - critique please

[Tobyh]

Hi all,

I can't make my mind up about this one. I like it then next time I look at it i'm not sure.



The background is the channel / sea wall at Rye harbour and was some 50 yards away and very dark whilst the bird was in the sun - easy to get a clean background but is it too much? I have removed a clearer sandy bar that was just above the bird as it didn't look right.

Any opinions?

Thanks

TobyH

[Ukwildlifeo]

Works for me. Its very 'contrasty' (the white and blacks) but I think it adds to the image

[dunlin]

Id agree with ukwildlifeo, the background gives it punch. not the standard bird in flight shot you usually see.
I like the intensity of the birds gaze, a nice action shot

[KentYeti]

I like the shot a great deal.

Only comment is that, whilst the really dark background makes the shot even better, it isn't a natural background for that type of bird doing what it is doing at that location, ( I know it well, and have watched the gulls doing the same thing at, I guess, the exact same place).

I got close to a similar result, (but not as good as yours), re the dark background for a close up of a shoulder perched Barn Owl recently. That worked ok for me as there is an expectation to see a Barn Owl with a very dark background because they hunt at night.

But back to the gull, I'm not sure what alternatives are available at that location to get such a good shot. A really dark sky background after a massive storm has passed, leaving the bird in the re emerging sunlight?

Cheers,

Bryan

[Tobyh]

Thanks for the comments all.

I have some other shots that are against blue sky and some with beach in the distance backdrops. I'll have to process a few of those too for comparison. Considering the gulls are pretty busy when they get feeding like this, it's actually quite hard to nail a decent shot with a good background.

What I did find interesting was watching some of the juveniles that didn't quite "get it" and were dropping their mussells from only a few feet evey time.

TobyH

[Alan Hewitt]

It's a great shot!

[KentYeti]

Originally Posted by Tobyh

Thanks for the comments all.

I have some other shots that are against blue sky and some with beach in the distance backdrops. I'll have to process a few of those too for comparison. Considering the gulls are pretty busy when they get feeding like this, it's actually quite hard to nail a decent shot with a good background.

What I did find interesting was watching some of the juveniles that didn't quite "get it" and were dropping their mussells from only a few feet evey time.

TobyH

Problem you will have with a anything other than the black background Toby is that you will probably lose the mussell dropping standing out like it is. Which is the whole point of the photo and no doubt why you did the background like that!

Which makes me realise is that not only is it a super shot, but the treatment you have given it is probably spot on.

Cheers,

Bryan

[actionfinch]

A shot of a bird, doing something that most of us never really see, is always great in my opinion.
I had a crow do the same with a nut and i wish i had my camera with me...
i like it..

[vole-woman]

I think it's fantastic!