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Soaring Gull


Soaring Gull
Photo Information
Copyright: Robert Shannon Sr (eqshannon) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2458 W: 216 N: 10292] (31141)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Fuji Finepix S2 pro, AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite bird in-flight photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-01-02 4:47
Viewed: 2721
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Some days it is just another bird......

The Seagull. Songs have been written about it. Poems have been written to it. As with any bird which soars alone in the sky, the gull can take on different proportions depending on the moment. Rarely do gulls seem graceful. This one did however. And it was all alone...from horizon to horizon I saw no other, just this. The sky above him was ethereal...musical...calling...a feeling deep...things as this come to my mind when I carry a camera. And for those who know me well, I am never without a camera, meaning these thoughts pervade my thinking. No science can define a picture. Only feeling and spirit can see the forms. Perhaps this is why vampires and evil creatures felt that they could not be seen in mirrors...they felt as though they had no spirit, so they would not be reflected, nor if they truly existed would they be captured. But the seagull is out of reach of myths and legends...and falls more into the category of romanticism.

Gently lit by the setting sun, he soars higher.......almost appearing as though he would disappear into the birth spot of the cloud layers....was it an exit door to somewhere we know nothing of?

Most gulls don't bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight - how to get from shore to food and back again. For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight. More than anything else. Jonathan Livingston Seagull loved to fly.
dkaved, EOSF1, jaycee, nglen, Argus, Silvio2006, Adanac, Luis52, CeltickRanger, angybone, fartash, warnzy, pierrefonds, oscarromulus, sranjan has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Adanac: Amazingeqshannon 1 01-02 18:46
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bob,
A real sensation of freedom in the image.I'm sure most people imagine at least once in their lifetime how it would feel to soar the skys, free as a bird.Take care and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to you and your loved ones.
Regards, David

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
  • [2008-01-02 6:47]

Hello Bob, great inflight shot of Jonathan ! I like the way you got the details of the clouds too. thanks my friend ! Good note !

Mario

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2008-01-02 8:43]

Hi Bob,

I thought of Joathan Livingston Seagull the moment I saw this picture! A very dramatic shot as he soars into the clouds.

Jane

Bonjour et bonne année.
Une belle envolée vers la nouvelle année.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-01-02 11:40]

Hi Bob. You have captured this lone gull so well . giving a felling of being alone it looks as if it was enjoying itself. I live about 5 miles from the sea. the gulls fly over head to the fields when a farmer is working . one all ways goes out first in search of food so the others dont waste energy after a few min 100s fly by. clever things birds .TFS. your good notes .

Nick..

  •      
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2008-01-02 11:45]

Hello Bob,
I like the way you caught this seagull turning his head towards the patch of blue sky surrounded by dark cloud, as if that's where he wants to be! I guess he's looking towards brighter times to come, but that's a typical interpretation from someone living in the dark north.
Keep well,
Ivan

Hi Bob, lovely flying gull in a splendid sky full of clouds, very well done, ciao Silvio

Salut Bob
Joli goéland en plein vol.

Une belle netteté de l'image malgré les conditions que la photo fut prise et bon angle de prise de vue.
Bonne année 2008

Merciet au revoir...JP

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2008-01-02 18:23]
  • [+]

Hi Bob,
Thanks for this lovely image of the gull hanging on the wind with very forboding clouds above. This is a romantic image for people who love freedom.
Rick

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2008-01-02 18:35]

Hi Bob.- Seagulls means for me Freedom, like this one. they can fly to far and stay where they want. And like all the birds in earth, they dont worry about the food, becouse always God provides. They are great wariors and never give up, If the wind throws the nest, they build it again as many times it is necesary.
and the best of all ... Singing.
Luis52.

hello Bob

Some days it is just another bird......but he has a wonderful flight
and i love those birds when they are on there wonderful flights

here you shot at the good moment, i love your pov,
i love the way the seagull is flying on this image,
your clouds from shadows to highlights are bringing
a plus to this image, TFS

Asbed

A real beauty!
Yes, you captured the feeling of soaring...the freedom of it.
:)
Good stuff again.

And I can relate to the gull...some days its all about food, some days about the flight. :)

Dear Bob
Wonderful shot of this Livingston Seagull,
Perfect composition,exposure and colors,
Very nice feeling :o)

Good Luck
Fartash

Hi Bob,

Nice picture and a poignant poetic note to accompany it. This a very artistic shot; not too close on the gull, which allows you to maximise the imact of this soulful sky...like an angel ascending to the heavens. Simply beautiful.

Thanks for sharing,

Mike

Hi Bob,

A lonely seagull in the sky, you did a good capture of it inflight, also the cloud details are an asset to the photo. A good detailed note, well done, thanks for sharing.

Pierre

Very MAJESTIC image, Bob.
BORN TO BE FREE.
Love your note.
Mario with fond greetings.

Hi, Bob,

lovely!! reminding me of the song "Flying Free" and the book "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"!!

thanks for your sharing of such a beautiful photo and such an inspiring seabird : )

Chrs,
Man Yee

Hello Bob,
Beautiful low angle capture of inflight seagull against the luminosity of cloud. I also tried something like this which can be seen as the latest inclusion by me. I still remember you had taken one shot of a high flying eagle in the clouds with lovely composition. TFS.
Regards-Subhash

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