This laughing gull got too close for a full body shot, so I cropped it to a
bird-in-flight portrait. By the way, here's the technique I used to get these
shots. I noticed a large mixed flock of mostly black skimmers/laughing gulls
down the beach. I took the longest lens I had in my wife's car & walked past
them so the sun was at my back & then approached slowly at a wandering, oblique
angle until the closest birds became a little nervous. I then stopped until
they settled down, and then slowly approached about 3 feet closer. I then sat
down & grabbed a few shots. A bit later, I inched a few feet closer. Then, I
simply waited & photographed as the individual birds came & went or during the
2 or 3 "big flushes" caused by beach walkers who weren't considerate of the
birds. I spent an hour and 20 minutes or so sitting in that one spot. All the
birds left twice while I sat there, but they returned fairly rapidly to their
favored spot once the disturbing walker had gone on... Within photographable
distance of me during that time were black skimmers, laughing gulls,
ring-billed gulls, herring gulls, and royal terns. With a little work, I could
have added least terns & a slow-to-migrate horned grebe. I plan to return with
a longer lens/tripod for (hopefully) similar shots later... Nikon D3, Nikkor
200 mm, f/8, 1/1000th second, ISO 250, handheld, natural light, cropped for
composition.
Robert Smith
336-339-3497
rsmithent@xxxxxxx
www.photobiologist.com
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