Seagul Lookout Photo

Photographer’s Note

This photo was taken at Fisherman's Wharf while I was having my lunch. Seaguls are always in the lookout for any food opportunities and this one just happened to pose for me nicely. I find the seaguls in Fisherman's Wharf quite big ... I suppose it must be due to all those junk foods they eat :)

MarianneS have a very practical question on why I did this compo in B&W. Well ... lately, I feel I've gone stale with my photography and needed to learn new techniques and explore other challenges .... B&W was an obvious path for me. I always like B&W photography but have little knowledge and skill to be confident enough to start posting here in TE. I must admit this is still outside my comfort zone, but so far I find the challenge very exciting. As what I've discovered, B&W is much more demanding than color.... some pros consider it as an unforgiving medium. The approach used in processing a B&W composition is quite different compared to color ... attention to details is quite essential. Everyday is a learning process for me and that is why feedbacks I get here in TE becomes part of the learning process. I just know that if I keep on pushing the boundaries of my photography knowledge, the better I'll become as a photographer. I've posted the original color version of the photo in the workshop if you want to post your own B&W version of this photo. Thanks all for viewing and giving your feedbacks.

jlbrthnn, japiey, gokanlam, rigoletto, gunbud, siolaw, dip, ChrisJ, Bruno40, Loic_bzh, Merline, Photo65Net, Cricri, JCG, Tue, danos, bakes888 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jlbrthnn (37785) 2008-01-27 11:20

Hello Renier,
Very beautiful photographic capture of this beautiful animal not very savage. Good choice of framing and color.
Good Evening
Cordially
Joel

japiey (9493) 2008-01-27 11:20

Hi Renier,
Good document from the place.
The pigeon, the harbour, the boats...
Good composition...Al the best..

jean paul

gokanlam (6427) 2008-01-27 11:30

Hi Renier,
Great portrait of the seagull.. I like its position in the composition.. The boats and their reflections in B&W look perfect..
Congratulations,
ReLa

MarianneS (14264) 2008-01-27 11:48

Hello Renier,
Very nice composition. The seagull is your main subject. Nevertheless, there are a lot of interesting details in your composition through the numerous boats and their reflections.
Why B&W? I would be curious to see the coloured version ;-)
Regards,
Marianne

dokadak (11490) 2008-01-27 12:38

Hi Renier,

Lovel composition... the title and composition haronious is so nice...

cheers
hasan

mesutilgim (36709) 2008-01-27 13:13

Hi Renier,
Wonderfull b&w capture. Very good pov amnd great compo.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

jplebrun (16892) 2008-01-27 13:35

Hi Renier
très belle réalisation en B/W de ce goéland surveillant les bateaux de ce port de plaisance, bien vu
Amitiés
Jean-Pierre

rigoletto (26190) 2008-01-27 15:22

Hi Renier,
This handsome seagull has been a very good model for you, and the fact that you could go this close, gives a very different touch to the photo. As if it comes from a documentary, told form the POV of the gull. Very nice sephia tones as well. Cheers,
Deniz

crckt (7074) 2008-01-27 16:32

Hi Renier,
I think I'll go with this one over the colored one because of the sharpness this brings out compared to the other. The tones of greys are eye-catching.
TFS.
Regards,
Shaeri

gunbud (27801) 2008-01-27 19:19

Hi Renier,
Duke Ellington said "if it sounds good, then its good" and I buess this applies to photography as well. This composition really looks good so its good. Wonderful sharpness with spot on details to go along with the lovely reflections. This gull looks like he is in charge of this warf. The harbor gulls are the lunkers because the feed is so good. It takes year to qualify as a saltwater harbor gull.
Regards, Tom

bazal (7898) 2008-01-27 23:23

Hi Renier.
This is a very nice picture with this young seagul in the foreground and the perspective on the boats within the harbour. I like the choice of b&w as it enhances the beauty of the textures and removes a lot of the light problems. Did you apply a specific filter to the sky?
Thanks for sharing.

siolaw (25728) 2008-01-27 23:38

Hi Renier,
Excellent take with a close up at the big gird, yet letting a good view of the marina with depth and perspective. The B&W is well converted with good range of tones.
Greetings
Laurent

vincz (19039) 2008-01-28 0:49

I know quite well this place, I have been living in SFO during quite a while. Always seagulls there. I like the compo with the bird way in the foreground and the interesting reflections in the water.

Paolo (40698) 2008-01-28 1:48

Hi Renier, fantastic one! a wonderufl close up on the seagules and also with his POV on the marina!
excellent quality and excellent use of b/w and contrast too.
thanks, ciao

dip (12562) 2008-01-28 2:06

Hi Renier,
very nice image,excellent captured and framed,
the seagul in the foreground is the 'extra bonus' in the photo,
very well done!
Dimitris.

Bruno40 (6440) 2008-01-28 3:12

Very good B&W photo Renier. Your skills have improved a lot on this medium.
A lot of details and excellent DOF.
Well done
Jorge

Budapestman (41726) 2008-01-28 3:58

Hi Renier,
Beautiful shot with attractive composition, the POV is great. I like the harmonious and calm atmosphere and the lovely seagul, effective choice the B&W. Very well done! Have a nice week
George

Loic_bzh (7027) 2008-01-28 4:10

Hi Renier,

this gull is perfectly sharp. Nice view of the harbour at the background. B&W is quite unusual for this kind of pict, but I like the result.

Cheers,

Loïc

Nicou (44663) 2008-01-28 4:35

hello,

Très belle iamge NB,, cette mouette sur son tronc est superbement capté avec de beaux reflets, mangigique.

Bravo et amitiés

Nicou

wolf38 (12734) 2008-01-28 8:09

Hello Renier. A WONDERFUL PHOTO IN BLACK-AND-WHITE. Perfect composition. Best grey tones. Outstanding. Worth seeing. Best regards, Wolfgang.

ifanik (20522) 2008-01-28 9:21

Hi Renier
Very beautiful photo not only for the gul
I like very much the beautiful place
Very well done
Best regards
Nick

molla (6883) 2008-01-28 9:31

Hej Reiner
Excellent POV and DOF, haven't seen the color one but it seems to be a good choice to post this BW that makes the bird even more impressive.
cheers
Anders

Merline (6574) 2008-01-28 9:48

Hello Renier,
the view is classical but the seagull taken from so close gives it the special touch and depth. He seems the master of this bit of Fisherman's wharf, keeping a close eye on it. Well done, I like the choice of b/w, in color it's much more a "touristic" shot I feel. I encourage you to continue with b/w shots along the color ones.

TFS
Regards
Michèle

jonathan_hart (22576) 2008-01-28 10:05

hi Renier
well seen :) nice composition in B&W with the gull in foreground, good clarity and fine framing
regards
jo

gunershot (87) 2008-01-28 10:37

Hi Renier,
What a beautiful black-white photo....
I love it. Good compo. Tfs.
Dr.Seyfettin Güner

Photo65Net (43084) 2008-01-28 10:37

Renier,
BW here is an original choice, as we can attend for hard blues and white, with strong contrast.
This choice works, I like that, with its soft tones and nice contrasts.
Beautiful,
Regards,
JB.

Cricri (43092) 2008-01-28 11:01

Hi Renier,
Une belle réalisation en N/B aimablement cadrer avec la mouette, néamoins j'ai une petite préférence avec l'ambiance des couleurs en WS
Have a nice evening for you
cricri

devimeuxbe (55865) 2008-01-28 15:45

Hi renier
The composition is very beautifull with the bird in front of the boats. Excellent sharpness; Good balck and white.
Very nice
Bertrand

adores (15493) 2008-01-28 16:41

Hi Renier!
What a lovely seagul you have here.You framed it very well with all those boats in the background. I also like the texture of the wood. It's great in B&W!

ChrisJ (70153) 2008-01-29 0:40

Hi Renier

The fg birds adds depth, & a whimsical perspective. Marvellous tonal range, & sharpness, in this superb b&w image, & harbourside scene. Tfs!

sacavem (8241) 2008-01-29 1:35

Olá Renier,

Nice shot p&b.Lighting,sharpness and focusing are Beautiful.
Regards,
Filipe

JCG (25233) 2008-01-30 11:09

Hi Renier,

I like much the majesty of this seagull. Framing is judicious and makes it possible to give a good depth to the image. Thank you to have put the color photo in WS what enables us to better appreciate this splendid black and white. Beautiful management of the image and in particular at the level of contrast. Good work, cheer Renier.

With all my friendships,

Jean-Charles

Tue (25608) 2008-01-30 12:16

Hi Renier,
I can well understand your choice for B&W, also because the colours in the colour version are a bit pale and the light quite fierce. I love the tranquil atmosphere that you caught in this harbour with wonderful reflections. In this B&W version the light is much more pleasant. Excellent inclusion of the gull too. Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

Angshu (33619) 2008-02-01 3:05

Hello Renier
If you were to highlight your main subject, the gull, I am in favour of your B&W option. In the colour version, our attention gets drifted away to the boats in the BG. I like the sky much better here & the tonalities you achieved. An experiment, well succeeded Renier & I continue to enjoy your latest posts in B&W
Regards
Angshu

tehanu_f (6874) 2008-02-02 8:27

I stayed in SF for almost 2 months and came back without seeing this famous wharf. Did I miss a lot? I love your compo with the seagull sharp and clear in the fg. B/W adds it a slightly unreal effect, which I think is nice. Well done.
Regards,
Fusun

jmcl (13721) 2008-02-14 20:52

HI Renier,

I love your exposure and tone .. good control of the bright end .. I love the still reflections .. very nice composition and perspective ..

hope you and yours are well.

take care,

John

danos (32302) 2008-05-15 4:55

Hello Renier,
nice the B/W portrait of the seegull that i think, watching the entrance of the marina and no for any food opportunities as you write in your note.Excellent the reflections on the surface of the sea as the sharpness and the clarity of the capture.Informative your note.I think that this one is more attractive from the colorful one.

Regards,Danos

bakes888 (18165) 2008-05-30 1:37

Hi Renier. The seagull may be posing but he still has a wary eye on you ;-). I’m no expert on B&W but this looks pretty good to me, good range of tones from black to white, good sharpness and contrast. The only negative I can see it the digital noise in the FG water though that’s not a bigy. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.