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Gull Squadron


Gull Squadron
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Prince (PDP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11755)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-12-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX APO RF, Digital ISO 400, Hoya skylight (1B)
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/1000 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Interacting birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-12-29 6:09
Viewed: 1473
Favorites: 4 [view]
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Black-headed gull, Larus ridibundus

Not really a black-headed bird, more chocolate-brown - in fact, for much of the year, it has a white head. It is most definitely not a ‘seagull’ and is found commonly almost anywhere inland. Black-headed gulls are sociable, quarrelsome, noisy birds, usually seen in small groups or flocks, often gathering into larger parties where there is plenty of food, or when they are roosting.
Breeding
Coastal marshes, freshwater marshes, gravel pits, lakes and moorland pools.
Wintering
Coastal marshes, estuaries, inland wetlands, reservoirs, ploughed fields, pasture, playing fields and rubbish tips.

Ths is the commonest inland gull, particularly in N England, Scotland and Wales. Large colonies along the south and east coasts of England. It’s diet consists of worms, insects, fish and carrion.


The notes are from the RSPB Website


These are some gulls from Black Park, I took this on Christmas Eve as I decided I had had enough of shopping (I hate crowds). Still, I was surprised to see quite a few people there, maybe they too were tired of the Christmas rush. Anyway, it's funny taking pictures always seems to attract attention and when I see the bird in my viewfinder fly away I know that if I turn around I will see two or three peole standing there, it can be frustrating sometimes.

Even though this shot was taken at midday our sun at the moment is still quite low and the dead leaves on the trees gave the water a wonderful red glow.

I hope you like it. It reminds me of a squadrons of planes awaiting their turn to take to the sky.
tinman, scottevers7, taba, marhowie, goldfinchtr, anavazao, Friday, dew77, gopi, Demetrio, Dave, coasties, Janice, blue-velvet29 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To shirgold: Hi ShirPDP 2 12-29 15:04
To ellis49: Happy New Year to you too!PDP 2 12-29 06:38
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Paul,
it's a very funny for me to see them with white heads, when they are here they have dark heads, I have never seen them like this in the flesh.
Well composed, very nice light and colours.
Good details and POV.
Great work work my friens.
I just drop in to wish you a Happy New Year.

Great lighting Paul. The composition is excellent as well. Thanks

Hi Paul,
Excellent shot here. The gulls look great lined up at an angle where they can all be shown. The OOF flying gulls in the backround really add to the excellent composition. Exposure looks to be spot on. Well done!
Scott

Superb shot Paul!
They really look like squadron awaiting its turn. I love the BG with another group of birds already in flight.
I like the fact there's order in FG and mess in BG. That makes very interesting whole. And, as always, picture has great, very warm mood created by colours and light.
I like it very, very much :)

OK - You have tricked us with photoshop right?
Just kidding Paul :-) What a unique capture, and very well done my friend. Wish it was mine!
Thank You.

  • Great 
  • taba Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 463 W: 126 N: 268] (1510)
  • [2005-12-29 7:40]

Hi Paul
Great photo you got !
The gull are fantastic in the line...
Good DOF and POV and moment to see and shot this.
Very good colours too.
well done
Taba

Excellent capture Paulo,Who are they waiting for? Very nice composition and colors.TFS and happy new year

Hello
A very good POV, composition, and colours well DONE.

thanks Ana:)

lol, beautifully lined up!!

Wow, this is something!!! Unbelievable!!! Perfect!!!
Thanks for sharing,
Laila

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-12-29 10:25]

Hello Paul!
Very nice capture.Lighting,POV,details,pose of gulls and composition are wonderful.TFS...:-)

Hi Paul,
Fantastic capture, this is wonderful how they stand in line on this log/pipe.
Good details and I love the color on the water.
shutter speed seems to be quite high considering the lens - was there a lot of light?
TFS - Shir

  • Great 
  • gopi Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 68] (333)
  • [2005-12-29 11:05]

Thats a beautiful shot Paul.
The lighting on the band of brothers (or sisters) is great. The grey ones at the background gives an idea of the situation (the noise, clamour etc). Only the bright guy in the top right background is a bit disturbing to my eyes.
Very well done
Gopi

Very good photo and funny title. You really are there at the right moments for these. Hope you had good Christmas and hope to see more of your work in the new year.

All the very best

Demetrio

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 523 W: 47 N: 669] (2157)
  • [2005-12-29 11:48]

Beautiful composition Paul!
Artfully done!
Great title! Looks like those guys are pretty well organized. Everything all shined up and ready to go... Quite airworthy...;-)
Thanks,
Dave

Hi Paul

Love this shot! They are perfectly lined up ready for action. Nice lighting. TFS

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3452 W: 144 N: 5902] (17486)
  • [2005-12-29 14:23]

Well trained squadron Paul! All lined up and ready to go... The low sun certainly dulls the scene, but I think it has emphasised the gulls against those flying in the BG.
Well shown...
Janice

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3072 W: 232 N: 5866] (19726)
  • [2005-12-29 14:33]

This is a wonderful shot, Paul. Very funny. I really like the way they are lined up, with their eyes trained at the horizon. I also like the way the light falls on the row of gulls, with the shadow of the others in the background. Very effective. TFS. ; )

Excellent photo of your gull squadron, the lighting works perfectly for the 5 main subjects by keeping them the main focus as well as the perfect DOF. Have a Happy New Year Paul! :)

Hi Paul,
wow, that's amazing - but also a little funny - like at the navy ;-) I like the warm colours and the soft BG with the flying gulls.
Excellent shot, thank you so much, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Paul,
This is very good capture, nice flying gull in the background, and amazing colour on the water.
TFS and Happy New Year!

  • Great 
  • reina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 263 W: 1 N: 321] (1990)
  • [2005-12-30 4:31]

Hi Paul, very nice composition, good lighting too, congratulations.
Best wishes for 2006. Greetings Reina

What well trained gulls! What adds to the interest is that not one is noticing all the activity going on around them. Great capture.
I love the subtlty of the colors. I might have been tempted to crop a little off the bottom...the white at the bottom pulls ones eye a little off the main subject. I agree with qoti's comment but shooting wildlife one can't compose every detail. Overall, it's a great shot.

Wow Paul,

What a picture, to get people to pose so nicely is difficult! I really like this picture, and wish it was mine. Well done

Jan-Hendrik

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 32 N: 790] (3052)
  • [2006-01-06 6:14]

Brilliantly captured, this is certainly one of those shots that don't present themselves that often, I think you have captured it perfectly. TFS.
Dean.

Direct to my FAV. What an spectacular capture, my friend.
Hope to have more time to share with you soon.
In the mean time receive my best regards and congratulations for this one.
TFS.

Hi Paul!
Excellent photo! Fantastic composition, beautiful colors and light. Wonderfull POV and DOF! Perfect work!
TFS ;-)
regards
Dorota

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