Black Tern

Gallery: AvianPosted August 7, 2011101 views11 comments

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ
Date: October 25, 2010
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8, G1325, RRS BH-55, sidekick
ISO 400, aperture priority matrix metered, 1/3000th sec @ f/4
Raw, PS CS3, Mac G4, moderate crop

A companion shot to my previous post of this basic plumage Black Tern.

I had enough time with this aerial acrobat to try various things including taking the converters off my 300/2.8. I’m not sure but this might have been hand held as well.

As always: honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. Please view the larger image before critiquing if possible.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on August 7, 2011 at 12:38 PM

Real nice image showing off the beautiful markings of this bird. Never easy to get a tern in flight

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on August 7, 2011 at 1:07 PM

I've never had the opportunity to try shooting these, but from what I've been reading in comments on other posts of this species they must be a real challenge, and I'd say you did quite well with this one Rich.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Rajan Desai on August 7, 2011 at 1:56 PM

Terns are tough to photograph in flight. Great shot here Richard.

Registered on March 25, 2005, 32 Posts, 395 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on August 7, 2011 at 6:03 PM

Nice flight shot. Very good detail.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 7, 2011 at 10:16 PM

Excellent, Richard. I like the great eye contact adn the wing position works very well.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on August 7, 2011 at 11:30 PM

Rich, I like the wing position, sharpness, and nice light in the eye.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on August 9, 2011 at 12:28 AM

Had my first ever opportunity to photograph Tern a couple of weeks ago, though sadly none of my shots came out anywhere as pleasing as this one of yours Richard, congratulations on a wonderful capture!

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on August 9, 2011 at 5:56 AM

Nice one Richard. If these guys are anything like Whiskered Terns in terms of flight patterns then you've done a great job

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on August 9, 2011 at 10:57 AM

I'd love to add this Tern to my collection - extremely well done!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by richard ettlinger on August 9, 2011 at 10:33 PM

Very nice catch Richard, I like it!

Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 2, 2011 at 9:20 PM

Details look great in the LP, like the wing position a lot Rich.
I don't know anything about these birds I must admit..But since you've called it an aerial "acrobat", I imagine the degree of difficulty is high.
Hat's off to ya!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments