Silver Gulls Photo

Photographer’s Note

Another shot here from Kirra Beach near the border of Queensland and New South Wales. This view was taken substantially closer to the water and features a flock of cheeky Australian Silver Gulls. These are the birds that are likely to turn up to steal some of your fish and chips, fly around in sporting stadiums, and cause hazards at airports. But the beach would not be the same without them.

The beach is great for swimming and surfing, is patrolled by lifesavers and is netted to prevent shark attacks. In 1937 before the introduction of netting, a tiger shark killed two people here.

I had the option of including a slither of Point Danger/Greenmount on the right hand side but I chose not to because it did not look balanced. I also tried to brighten the image a little in PP but it only became washed out so I settled upon this authentic lighting option. I did not use a tripod here, but I certainly would have if I remembered to put it in the car.

The only post processing done was to slightly align the horizon (1 degree to the left), crop out some bland sky and FG and then added the frame.

I can count 48 birds. Do you agree? Don’t waste your time counting because if one moves you will have to start all over again :-)!

Matt

**Will upload a LP tomorrow, not allowing me to currently**

avene, ribeiroantonio, macondo, daddo, MLINES, trekks, JPlumb, jusninasirun, ChrisJ, gunbud has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

avene (10942) 2008-01-29 2:47

I count only 44 birds, 4 must've flown away. and you're right, the counting is tricky, them restless birds move around constantly. LOL :)
nice shot, Matthew, I like a lot the strong horizontal lines in your composition, I find they always create a strong feeling of wide open space, exactly what you want to achieve with a photo from a beach. love the colours too, the cool blue feels very refreshing. some will say that the composition is too centered, but I like it a lot, I've always felt that symmetrical compositions emphasise calmness of the scene very well. excellent work, my compliments.
best,
Kristine

anes_lc (14766) 2008-01-29 2:51

great capture matthew ,the birds looks like they pose for you ,great frame ,and soft colors
beautiful view
thanks sharing
anes

ribeiroantonio (21881) 2008-01-29 2:52

48 birds? May be. However, it is one superb picture, with very good natural colours and very sharp. Your note is also very good. Well done.
Antonio

Niebaotan (300) 2008-01-29 3:05

Hi Matthew!

Excellent capture, the composition is perfect and the colors are amazing. Great work.

TFS
/Peter

macondo (13073) 2008-01-29 4:28

Hi Matthew.
A good crop applying the rule of thirds makes this one work well, plus the line of gulls filling the shot from one side to the other. I agree with your decision to crop out the bit of the point on the right, as this shot relies on the laterals and the repeating birds for its effect. I like the slightly under-exposed look and the atmosphere. I won't bother counting 'em.
Regards,
Andrew

daddo (11299) 2008-01-29 5:02

Hi Matthew. The colours are beautiful in this scene. The blue of the sky and of the sea is so light and delicate and seems to be picked up on the gulls' wings. A harmonious and gentle creation. I also like the slight curve along which the gulls are placed. Regards. Klaudio.

jhm (82233) 2008-01-29 5:40

Hello Matthew,

Very good three part picture, this is a school example to composition.
In foreground the silver seagulls, together with the sea and the cloudy sky in background.
Very well done, thanks for sharing.

Have a nice day,
John.

gracious (20017) 2008-01-29 12:32

Hello Matt,
Very good low pov with great depth in this lovely captured!
the line of Silver gulls adds a great fg perspective towards this lovely composition!
a very good atmosphere and mood for the vastness of space!
good clarity, beautiful colouration and details in perfect framing!
well done, Matt
Tony

p/s will post especially for you the Huka fall in next few postings! hope you will like it!

MLINES (10860) 2008-01-29 13:47

Hi Matt. Nice split between sky and sea and sand. This is a fine composition well displayed which shows part of Austrlia's 36,000 km of coastline. We are spoiled in this way. As kids and teenagers most of our spare time was spent at places like this so it brings back special memories. TFS. Murray.

JPlumb (3153) 2008-01-29 20:17

Hi Matt, even without the large post there is lots to see in this posting here. The composition is excellent. Others have commented on how you followed the rules and achieved great results. I concurr, the rules sometimes work. The subject is interesting, though I'm not crazy about these birds, and (even without your tripod) you've captured great colour with great light. I can see this type of photo (a little larger of course) hanging in an office somewhere. It's very good.

Thanks, John

aadilj (17950) 2008-01-29 21:10

Thats a lovely and beautifully spread out panoramic view of the fresh and vibrant looking ocean. I like your treatment of the textures and management of the colours. good work indeed.

jusninasirun (10179) 2008-01-29 21:22

Hello Matthew,

This is beautiful making this composition complete with just sand, sea and sky. The gulls are in good details and very disciplined by the shoreline.

Well done,
Regards,
Jusni

trekks (14262) 2008-01-30 2:06

Very cool color tone of this nice beach front and well composed to have horizontal wave lines. The gulls depict the calm scene here with little disturbance. From texture of sand, the wave action looks strong.

In Malaysia, if a few birds are disturbed, you would probably see the whole flock gone in seconds.

Nice work, Matt. TFS

bill
later

Ann75 (0) 2008-01-30 19:51

Hi Matthew,

Beautiful shots with different layers from the sand, to the seagulls, the water and the sky! Great composition with wonderful light, beautiful colors and excellent details. Great work, Matthew!

Greetings,
Ann

ChrisJ (70065) 2008-01-31 1:18

Hi Matthew

Good composition using the rule of thirds, with excellent colour & sharpness. Nice repetition of the seagulls & superb pp work. Tfs!

ElAprendiz (7370) 2008-02-06 18:18

Hello my friend.

A simple vision, it had not seen in detail the composition of your shot so far that the broad picture. And I meet is set gulls beautiful, artistically lined up on the beach, with a wide perspective.

There is a lot of warmth in tone, great balance.

John

woozbman (366) 2008-02-08 22:16 [Comment]

Show Comment

gunbud (27779) 2008-02-16 15:54

Hi Matt,
Beautiful layered textured to this photo created by the rolling below the details clouds and the rows of hungry gulls. Very peaceful shades of blue and white along this wonderful beach.
Regards, Tom