Nature Gull in Flight

Gull in Flight · **2 Likes**

There is a challenge this week for an image that portrays velocity. I did a little research and learned one interpretation is an image wherein the subject in motion looks still, but the background is blurred providing that forward motion. Anyway, I went down to the lake to try out the technique, ended up with one passable image, and while experimenting with the settings accidentally took these.

My first BIF! I am sooo happy!

hmm... looking these over I see a dust spot and a bit of a halo on this one which I have to now fix!

by the way, here is the velocity shot I was actually after... only my bird is not sharp enough....

**Bob Harris** · 07-12-2012, 02:14 PM

Beautiful gull photos, spot on for sure. The last image certainly portrays velocity, speed to the max, like you said just missed it.

GeoJerry · 07-12-2012, 06:07 PM

Those closeups are great, so crisp and colorful. Looks like we've both been stalking gulls lately.

Frogfish · 07-12-2012, 06:14 PM

And really fine shots they are too Tess ! The only C&C I'd give is you may have cropped them a little toooo close on one or two

**luftfluss** · 07-12-2012, 06:37 PM

Nicely done, Tess. Personally, I find Common Gulls to be photogenic birds, as they do really well showing off a deep blue sky or interesting background.

Don't forget to turn off SR when panning!

Den · 07-13-2012, 01:07 AM

Good shots Tess. I like gulls too, even when on the ground

daacon · 07-13-2012, 05:25 AM

Those still shots are spot on Tess and the motion one is pretty good. I don't have much luck either with panning - practice , practice , practice methink.s

**Bruce Clark** · 07-13-2012, 05:30 AM

A nice series with great detail in those wide wingspan shots.

**dcmsox2004** · 07-13-2012, 06:08 AM

marvelous captures tess... wonderful detail on this gull on the wing.... dave m

slowpez · 07-13-2012, 06:20 AM

These are just spot on Tess. The fourth one shows almost perfect circles of white on its wingtips which I have never seen before. How great is that.

charliezap · 07-13-2012, 06:29 AM

The gulls work very well with the blue sky Tess.--charliezap

tessfully · 07-13-2012, 08:23 AM

Originally posted by Bob Harris

Beautiful gull photos, spot on for sure. The last image certainly portrays velocity, speed to the max, like you said just missed it.

Thanks Bob. I hope to give that shot another try before Sunday.

Originally posted by GeoJerry

Those closeups are great, so crisp and colorful. Looks like we've both been stalking gulls lately.

Or do they stalk us? As soon as I pointed the camera at this gull he came right at me and put on a show! Next time I will be bringing treats.

Originally posted by Frogfish

And really fine shots they are too Tess ! The only C&C I'd give is you may have cropped them a little toooo close on one or two

thank you Frogfish, I went back and took the crop off. I will post it below.

Originally posted by luftfluss

Nicely done, Tess. Personally, I find Common Gulls to be photogenic birds, as they do really well showing off a deep blue sky or interesting background.

Don't forget to turn off SR when panning!

Thanks luftfluss. I had it on "C" ... I need more practice. I have always been a fan of gulls, even where they are reviled like city beaches I still find them beautiful and fun to watch.

Originally posted by Den

Good shots Tess. I like gulls too, even when on the ground

Excellent shot Den!!!!!

Originally posted by daacon

Those still shots are spot on Tess and the motion one is pretty good. I don't have much luck either with panning - practice , practice , practice methink.s

Thank you Dave... hope I can get a better one to share.

Originally posted by Bruce Clark

A nice series with great detail in those wide wingspan shots.

Thank you Bruce!

Originally posted by dcmsox2004

marvelous captures tess... wonderful detail on this gull on the wing.... dave m

Thanks so much Dave. I was very surprised and pleased with these.

Originally posted by slowpez

These are just spot on Tess. The fourth one shows almost perfect circles of white on its wingtips which I have never seen before. How great is that.

I was over the moon when I saw those circles! Thank you so much for having a look and commenting Susan.

Originally posted by charliezap

The gulls work very well with the blue sky Tess.--charliezap

Nothing quite like a bird in flight against that great blue sky! Thanks so much for commenting Charlie!

Here is the image I fixed up and took off the crop:

**Sailor** · 07-13-2012, 11:55 AM

Impressive photos, Tess. We see so many gulls (often in mall parking lots near fast food restaurants) that I don't really appreciate them anymore. You're photos remind me that these critters can be very compelling.

Jer

Williunck · 07-13-2012, 01:26 PM

I was just messing around with the K5 and doing some panning shots today. Did you have SR turned off Tess? The blur on the gull actually looks like SR blur trying to compensate for your sideways movement. Also for velocity shots the distance from your target to the background (and focal length) makes a big difference on shutterspeed. The first shot is at 1/125 which was too slow to catch her head and shoulders sharp, as it moves around to much while she is running, so I for the second shot I was at 1/250th but you barely get the grass blur because it is so close behind her.

**luftfluss** · 07-13-2012, 01:35 PM

Originally posted by tessfully

Thanks luftfluss. I had it on "C" ... I need more practice. I have always been a fan of gulls, even where they are reviled like city beaches I still find them beautiful and fun to watch.

The "C" refers to continuous autofocus, which shouldn't affect the SR setting... but I don't have a K5, so maybe I'm wrong.

SR can get confused while panning, resulting in image blur. My own testing has found this to be the case some of the time, but not always.

tessfully
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by tessfully
	Find threads started by tessfully
	Find threads in which tessfully has posted

07-13-2012, 01:07 AM	#6
Den Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington (State) Posts: 929	Good shots Tess. I like gulls too, even when on the ground Last edited by Den; 02-25-2013 at 10:41 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
1 flight, 3 pilots, 13 flight attendants: 16 women.	jogiba	General Talk	8	06-27-2012 04:36 AM
Nature Duck & Gull	Cee Cee	Post Your Photos!	7	04-11-2012 03:57 PM
Black-Headed Gull's Evening Flight	Zampel	Monthly Photo Contests	0	02-27-2012 02:04 PM
Nature The Gull Speaks	tim.anderson	Post Your Photos!	2	01-02-2012 09:34 AM
A gull in flight	brett	Monthly Photo Contests	0	03-18-2007 07:34 AM

07-12-2012, 02:14 PM	#2
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	Beautiful gull photos, spot on for sure. The last image certainly portrays velocity, speed to the max, like you said just missed it.

07-12-2012, 06:07 PM	#3
GeoJerry Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,158	Those closeups are great, so crisp and colorful. Looks like we've both been stalking gulls lately.

07-12-2012, 06:14 PM	#4
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	And really fine shots they are too Tess ! The only C&C I'd give is you may have cropped them a little toooo close on one or two

07-12-2012, 06:37 PM	#5
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,626	Nicely done, Tess. Personally, I find Common Gulls to be photogenic birds, as they do really well showing off a deep blue sky or interesting background. Don't forget to turn off SR when panning!

07-13-2012, 05:25 AM	#7
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Those still shots are spot on Tess and the motion one is pretty good. I don't have much luck either with panning - practice , practice , practice methink.s

07-13-2012, 05:30 AM	#8
Bruce Clark Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ocean Grove, Victoria Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,458	A nice series with great detail in those wide wingspan shots.

07-13-2012, 06:08 AM	#9
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	marvelous captures tess... wonderful detail on this gull on the wing.... dave m

07-13-2012, 06:20 AM	#10
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461	These are just spot on Tess. The fourth one shows almost perfect circles of white on its wingtips which I have never seen before. How great is that.

07-13-2012, 06:29 AM	#11
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686	The gulls work very well with the blue sky Tess.--charliezap

07-13-2012, 08:23 AM	#12
tessfully Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: S. Algonquin, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,860 Original Poster	Originally posted by Bob Harris Beautiful gull photos, spot on for sure. The last image certainly portrays velocity, speed to the max, like you said just missed it. Thanks Bob. I hope to give that shot another try before Sunday. Originally posted by GeoJerry Those closeups are great, so crisp and colorful. Looks like we've both been stalking gulls lately. Or do they stalk us? As soon as I pointed the camera at this gull he came right at me and put on a show! Next time I will be bringing treats. Originally posted by Frogfish And really fine shots they are too Tess ! The only C&C I'd give is you may have cropped them a little toooo close on one or two thank you Frogfish, I went back and took the crop off. I will post it below. Originally posted by luftfluss Nicely done, Tess. Personally, I find Common Gulls to be photogenic birds, as they do really well showing off a deep blue sky or interesting background. Don't forget to turn off SR when panning! Thanks luftfluss. I had it on "C" ... I need more practice. I have always been a fan of gulls, even where they are reviled like city beaches I still find them beautiful and fun to watch. Originally posted by Den Good shots Tess. I like gulls too, even when on the ground Excellent shot Den!!!!! Originally posted by daacon Those still shots are spot on Tess and the motion one is pretty good. I don't have much luck either with panning - practice , practice , practice methink.s Thank you Dave... hope I can get a better one to share. Originally posted by Bruce Clark A nice series with great detail in those wide wingspan shots. Thank you Bruce! Originally posted by dcmsox2004 marvelous captures tess... wonderful detail on this gull on the wing.... dave m Thanks so much Dave. I was very surprised and pleased with these. Originally posted by slowpez These are just spot on Tess. The fourth one shows almost perfect circles of white on its wingtips which I have never seen before. How great is that. I was over the moon when I saw those circles! Thank you so much for having a look and commenting Susan. Originally posted by charliezap The gulls work very well with the blue sky Tess.--charliezap Nothing quite like a bird in flight against that great blue sky! Thanks so much for commenting Charlie! Here is the image I fixed up and took off the crop:

07-13-2012, 11:55 AM	#13
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,203	Impressive photos, Tess. We see so many gulls (often in mall parking lots near fast food restaurants) that I don't really appreciate them anymore. You're photos remind me that these critters can be very compelling. Jer

07-13-2012, 01:35 PM	#15
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,626	Originally posted by tessfully Thanks luftfluss. I had it on "C" ... I need more practice. I have always been a fan of gulls, even where they are reviled like city beaches I still find them beautiful and fun to watch. The "C" refers to continuous autofocus, which shouldn't affect the SR setting... but I don't have a K5, so maybe I'm wrong. SR can get confused while panning, resulting in image blur. My own testing has found this to be the case some of the time, but not always.