<<< o >>>guest entry: JR @ [ p i x e l @ d a y ] 19 comments + add yours
chromasia.com

I agonized for hours trying to decide which image post here. Something similar to Dave? Something more in my style? Green beans? Kids playing around?

I initially prepared an image from the following series.

I settled for a bird. Yes, a simple Seagull. When you read how it was shot, you'll see why I picked it.

If it was to have a title, it would be: Luck favors those that are prepared.

I was taking a walk around Museum Campus in Chicago (between the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium) when I noticed Jonathan L. flying towards me.

He looked like the kind of bird that wanted to fly low -- really low. As he approached, I just raised my camera from my hip, aimed in the general direction of Jonathan and fired. I guess I was lucky. Or like I want to think, I was ready.

Shot at 45mm equivalent, you can tell that he was very, very close.

JR @ [ p i x e l @ d a y ]

camera
capture date
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
Flash
ISO
lens
focal length
image quality
white balance
cropped?
Canon 1D Mark II
19:12:56 on 19/07/04
f/6.7
1/180sec
M (for modest)
+0.0
Pattern
550 EX on E-TTL II
200
17-40mm f/4L
36.0mm (45mm equivalent)
RAW converted with C1DSLR Pro
Daylight
very minor
 
guest entries + no print
comment by Michael in Ohio at 12:16 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

All I can say is wow.

comment by Ray Philson at 12:33 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

You carry your camera, you take your chances and sometimes it pays off..

This is one of those times.

Beautiful shot

comment by Joan at 12:50 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

Great shot. Good choice.

comment by Steve Wilde at 12:53 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

Great shot... I'm always tempted to take a pop at a low flying gull but never been that close... Don't like the way he was looking at you though... Hope he didn't get you back!

comment by JR at 02:04 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

> Hope he didn’t get you back!

Nope. I'm still clean as a whistle.

comment by Joseph Holmes at 02:40 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

Fabulous, JR. very painterly! I love the hint of mostion suggested at the wing tips. when the photo gods are with you...

comment by Ryan at 02:49 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

Yes Sir! Sick!

comment by wvs at 05:54 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

excellent catch and great "out of this world" feel.

comment by Keith at 06:52 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

JR, this is a beautiful shot.

comment by fredrik at 08:48 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

i agree with all the others; it's a beautiful shot jr!:) well done

comment by Jessyel Ty Gonzalez at 10:07 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

Wonderful. I'm undecided about the comp, but it does interest me and that is what is good. Just wonderful!

comment by djn1 at 11:18 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

Wonderful, and I like the reference to Jonathan L. - if I were to imagine what he looks like I think this shot would be pretty close.

comment by RainKing at 11:24 AM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

Wonderful shot. Really beautiful.

comment by Henry at 12:12 PM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

That is unbelievably amazing. It shows how carrying your camera no matter where you go, what you do, can really paid off. You can almost feel the bird flying right out of the page (or screen :)

comment by Bob at 12:25 PM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

JR - I've loved birds for as long as I can remember - almost as long as I've loved photography. You've captured the elegant Ring-billed Gull so very well! He's beautiful -- and the sky is sapphire - a perfect back drop to such a great bird. Great work!

comment by Reza at 06:08 PM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

Beutiful, specially that you could catch it on a blue backgroung.... First I thought the background is fake. This is a picture that can be sold... Maybe if it was sharper, it would be better...maybe not!

comment by btezra at 06:44 PM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

~the color is xlnt~

comment by Tudy at 11:34 PM (GMT) on 23 July, 2004

Wow.. I bet you felt the breeze.

comment by Craig at 12:40 AM (GMT) on 24 July, 2004

Stunning. Absolutely stunning.