Loon (?) Skull?

Gallery: AvianPosted August 22, 2011127 views10 comments

I have been told that this is the skull of a common loon. I found this on a beach at Point Reyes, California many years ago and thought it may be of interest.

I had a tough time with the dark wood and bright bone white. Hope the balance seems ok. It still looks a bit dark to me.

Olympus E-5
50mm F2 macro
3.2 sec @ F22, -1.0 EV
flash off
ISO 100
manual focus
tripod

Large view provided.

I Always appreciate your comments.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on August 22, 2011 at 9:09 PM

Very interesting and successful image IMO.

I hope someone her can confirm the ID.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on August 22, 2011 at 10:00 PM

Very nice. The black background really helps bring out the skull.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on August 23, 2011 at 1:46 AM

Really cool still life; the darker tone adds to the photo, in my opinion. Can't help with the ID.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on August 23, 2011 at 6:58 AM

Not sure the ID, but I like the image. Different.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on August 23, 2011 at 7:27 AM

Charlie, a neat change of pace. Interesting presentation.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on August 23, 2011 at 8:30 AM

cool image, Charlie. unique and interesting. the shape of the bill certainly seems to fit best for Common Loon.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on August 23, 2011 at 8:59 AM

It doesn't look too dark to me, Charlie. Very interesting image. Good setting for the skull.
There is a nice variety of bird skull images at:

http://www.digimorph.org/listbysubgroup.phtml?grp=Avians&sort=SpeciesName

To my eyes the loon skull most closely resembles your image.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on August 23, 2011 at 9:21 AM

Thanks to all for comments and Steve that skull "Gavia immer skull, Common Loon" looks the same to me too. Thanks for the ID.

Charlie

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on August 23, 2011 at 10:30 AM

Cool image Charlie! Great composition!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 24, 2011 at 8:55 PM

What a "bonehead" shot!

Nicely done Charlie, the black BG and dark browns of the wood really make it stand out

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