Ring-billed Gull... breeding plumage and color

I captured this image early yesterday morning at Lake Morton in Lakeland, Florida. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D500
Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED image captured at 400mm
1/1600 F/5.6 Matrix Metering EV +1 ISO 800 Auto 1 WB, camera supported by a monopod
Post processed in Lightroom Classic CC, Photoshop CC 2019 and Neat Image for noise reduction
Cropped from horizontal to vertical for composition and presentation

I like the fluffy feather but feel the white background doesn't help. For these shots, I really like blue for contrast. I also want a bit more direct like on the bill to make the yellow pop.

Dorian Anderson said:

I like the fluffy feather but feel the white background doesn't help. For these shots, I really like blue for contrast. I also want a bit more direct like on the bill to make the yellow pop.

Click to expand...

Hi Dorian, not much I could do. Overcast morning, soft early light, I had to move off the light angle to get a pure uncluttered background. I liked the soft muted feeling of the image, soft light. Thank you for viewing and commenting, your comments are always appreciated.

Joseph Przybyla said:

Hi Dorian, not much I could do. Overcast morning, soft early light, I had to move off the light angle to get a pure uncluttered background. I liked the soft muted feeling of the image, soft light. Thank you for viewing and commenting, your comments are always appreciated.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I get it, you worked with what you had. I just don't bother shooting in flat light since the gulls, shorebirds, and ducks around me really need sun to shine. I use flat light days to ride my bike and go birdwatching instead.....

Dorian Anderson said:

Yeah, I get it, you worked with what you had. I just don't bother shooting in flat light since the gulls, shorebirds, and ducks around me really need sun to shine. I use flat light days to ride my bike and go birdwatching instead.....

Click to expand...

Yup, and you crawl around the ground also, but at 76 years old I do things a little different. I have been blessed with being reasonably fit with good health. So I take advantage of each day I can get out. Be safe and well, remember those white sharks off you coast love yum yum yellow kayaks. :wave:

Dorian Anderson said:

Yeah, I get it, you worked with what you had. I just don't bother shooting in flat light since the gulls, shorebirds, and ducks around me really need sun to shine. I use flat light days to ride my bike and go birdwatching instead.....

Click to expand...

I actually like flat light for everyday photography, some of my best photos has been in overcast days. I also live the middle of the Caribbean where light can get super harsh at times so flat light helps to spend the day outside with nice even light from all angles.

Raybel Robles said:

I actually like flat light for everyday photography, some of my best photos has been in overcast days. I also live the middle of the Caribbean where light can get super harsh at times so flat light helps to spend the day outside with nice even light from all angles.

Click to expand...

Hi Ray, very similar to Florida. Thank you for viewing and commenting.

Joseph Przybyla said:

Yup, and you crawl around the ground also, but at 76 years old I do things a little different. I have been blessed with being reasonably fit with good health. So I take advantage of each day I can get out. Be safe and well, remember those white sharks off you coast love yum yum yellow kayaks. :wave:

Click to expand...

Too funny about the kaya! Yeah, I certainly do a lot of crawling around. And i swing the big 600 a lot. I know the day will come when I can't do either, so I gotta do it now!

Nice to see the breeding plummage of this ring bill. Like the ruffled up feathers.

I love clouds. Nice image design. Notice that though the light was very soft it still had direction -- from our left.

with love, artie