The Hangout

Gallery: AvianPosted November 6, 2013338 views12 comments

The Hangout

This one from an inlet in the Great Bear Rainforest up on British Columbia's mid-coast. I've noticed for years that the dark, misty conditions up there somehow makes the white gulls appear whiter-than-white - they just glow! I like how the gulls are so obviously relaxed and just "hanging out" in this scene. I also like how the shot covers almost every pose and posture a standing/sitting gull can exhibit...

Subject: Group of Herring Gulls (Larus argentata) just hangin'
Location: Great Bear Rainforest, BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D4
Lens: Nikkor 400mm f2.8 VR - hand-held from floating zodiac. VR on and in "Normal" mode.
Exposure: 1/400s @ f7.1; ISO 640. -1 stop compensation compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.
Crop: Minimal - this is at least 80% of full frame

Larger yet version of this image on my website, plus "the usual" processing details. Just go here...

http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/latest/detail_3.html.

Comments and critiques welcomed - probably best to view the larger version prior to doing so!

Cheers...

Brad

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on November 6, 2013 at 3:30 PM

There is so much about these birds that is wrong individually: backside only, head gone, blocked by another bird, etc.; that it is a wonder that they are all glued together so marvelously by the "dark, misty conditions". Those same conditions, by themselves, are hardly worth the waste of digits. Yet to me, this is a whole picture that stands on those parts of subject and background, worth so much more than the sum of those parts. Brad, this is to me what photography in general and nature photography in particular is all about: a harmony of parts, all working together for a greater whole.

There is no emoticon that does justice to this, so I didn't include one.

Phil Hodgkins

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 6, 2013 at 5:06 PM

Very nice mage - I love the serene mood this conveys. I always look for these weather conditions because they can lead to satisfying images such as this but I rarely get any weather like this in dry AZ.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 6, 2013 at 5:44 PM

Great title and I agree, the image contains an interesting assortment of different poses.
I especially like the overall scene, well done!

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on November 7, 2013 at 10:59 AM

Very atmospheric Brad.

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on November 8, 2013 at 9:16 AM

Very nice mood here Brad. Reflections and background superb. Two thumbs up

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on November 8, 2013 at 9:36 AM

Hello Brad

A mood setting Image ! I can almost feel the moisture. Clear, Still waters, ...I bet the Quietness was amazing too?

Enjoy seeing this type of Image, & reflect on a tranquil experience.

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 8, 2013 at 11:59 AM

Excellent composition, Brad. The lines are beautiful and the grouping of gulls is almost perfect.

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 8, 2013 at 12:29 PM

Hey all,

Thanks for the feedback on this. While I still enjoy shooting tightly frame shots of wildlife (including birds), I find myself gravitating more and more towards "environmental" scenes - like this one. I find them much tougher to pull off than most "full frame" (or just tightly framed/cropped) shots, but for me the effort is worth it. And, in many cases it gives me a chance to use those shorter lens that are SO much lighter to carry!

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on November 8, 2013 at 1:04 PM

Love the atmosphere in this one ! As I tend to like images a bit on the dark side, this works very well for me ! Congrats ! Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on November 8, 2013 at 1:08 PM

Nice foggy atmospheric shot. I like the perching gulls and their ghostly reflections. I enjoy the subdued beauty of this shot.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on November 9, 2013 at 9:51 AM

Very nice grouping and a wonderful image with the misty setting. I like the subtle colors of the reflecting trees in the bg. A pleasure to view! Well seen and captured! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on January 27, 2014 at 5:08 PM

Cool shot. The reflections a nice added element. Totally subjective, but maybe just a little boos in brightness?

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments