
- SONY ILCE-1
- FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II + 1.4X Teleconverter
- ƒ/4
- 280mm
- 1/3200s
- ISO 1000
- Flash not fired
- Tue, 25 July 2023 10:20 AM
- Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 15.4.1 (Macintosh)
Black-legged Kittiwake Returning to Nest
This image was created on 25 July 2023 on my Grimsey Island, Iceland visit. Standing at full height at the edge of a cliff on a very windy morning, I used the handheldSony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 280mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 1000: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 10:20:01am on a cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
The kittiwake was quite upset. It flew in and out of its cliff nest repeatedly. It would land and offer to regurgitate partially digested fish to its chick by leaning in close while opening its bill to reveal the red throat that replaces the pecking spot of the larger gulls. The problem was that its chick was dead. Very dead. But the bird, becoming increasingly agitated, refused to give up. Several times it flew screaming back to the nest. By being in the right spot, I had some very good chances.
As for the image, don't be shy. All comments are appreciated.
with love, artie