20120118

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)

Such a common bird, but nevertheless one of my favourites. The matching beak and legs are very handsome, together the white and grey are striking and – because it's fearless and happy to make a nuisance of itself – It's always such good value for wildlife photographers. This one had just scared off a group of Snow Buntings.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/800th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: c 5m


Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/800th sec, f/5.6, 400mm at ISO 400. Distance to subject: c 5m

7 comments:

  1. Nice one Tim.

    Do you get a better, sharper image with your 100-400mm lens when it is at say f7.1 0r f8, rather than f5.6 ? I say this as I use a 100-400mm Sigma lens and it is the case for me. I know lenses are all different though :-)

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    1. Hi Warren. Images taken with the aperture closed a little (say f/8 onwards) undoubtedly seem sharper. This is, though, more a matter of depth of field than any lens issue; more of the image is in focus and, assuming good light, details will be sharper across more of the shot. This, of course, results in an image which generally appears crisper. With much nature photography, however, I look for the subject to be sharp but against a background that is considerably knocked back. Hence the general use of wider apertures (that and the English light – or absence of it!). Cheers, Tim

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  2. Nice shots, but it looks like a Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) to me!

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    1. Thanks Jeremy, you are, of course, absolutely right. I had been editing shots of Little Gulls and this must have been a rush to the head. – Tim

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  3. Great shots Tim.
    With the first one there is such a felling of movement, yet you have stopped him dead.

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  4. Thanks for that explanation Tim, I always like to get nosey with other peoples techniques :-) PS I wasn't going to mention the BH Gull mishap :-)

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