Ring-Billed Gulls Inflights (3)

I don't normally photograph gulls too often but I did yesterday. While several of us were photographing a grebe family my friend Jim Cumming loaned me his Canon L series 400mm F 5.6 lens to try. What a beautiful lens!

In between grebe shots I tried to capture some bird in flight images. The focus of this lens was extremely fast and here are some of the results. All are cropped from landscape format frames.

Thanks a million Jim!!

1. First catch of the day - "Are you looking at me?"

Stephen...these are great shots. I especially like that last one, love the reflection.

Oooooh ... some lovely in flight shots Stephen, and I could not agree more with the 400 5.6L prime, its a beautiful lens thats nice to handle ... once again beautiful shots.

Beautiful shots Stephen! It would take some time, for me to get used to a lens like that. You did really well with it!

These aren't ordinary gull shots, each offers something special. Nice work, Stephen. Guess you'll be adding to your gear list soon.

Great shots, Stephen

Very nice set of shots. I haven't seen many shots of these guys with an actual catch in their mouth.

You've still got the Bigma don't you? I was never able to tell any difference in focus speed between the 400/5.6 and the Bigma. Both are blister fast.

Great work with the 400, pretty shots Stephen, I love that lens... At first glance, I thought the gull had a fishing line and sinker in the first shot, fortunately not.... my old eyes must be failing me

db

Gulls can still be appreciated and I'm glad you made the photographs. All are very good, but that last one truly grabs me. Well done!

Shar824 wrote in post #10246821
Stephen...these are great shots. I especially like that last one, love the reflection.

Thanks Sharon. I was very pleased to capture these.

straker wrote in post #10246910
Oooooh ... some lovely in flight shots Stephen, and I could not agree more with the 400 5.6L prime, its a beautiful lens thats nice to handle ... once again beautiful shots.

Thanks Marco it was a treat to finally try a Canon L series lenes after 5 years doing digital photography.

ajosteve wrote in post #10247074
Beautiful shots Stephen! It would take some time, for me to get used to a lens like that. You did really well with it!

Thanks Steve. The lens made it easy.

sparker1 wrote in post #10247936
These aren't ordinary gull shots, each offers something special. Nice work, Stephen. Guess you'll be adding to your gear list soon.

I don't know Stan. You always need more gear!

patlannon wrote in post #10248028
Great shots, Stephen

canonloader wrote in post #10248174
Very nice set of shots. I haven't seen many shots of these guys with an actual catch in their mouth.

You've still got the Bigma don't you? I was never able to tell any difference in focus speed between the 400/5.6 and the Bigma. Both are blister fast.

Thanks Mitch. Yes I still have the Bigma. I would say that the 400 L is faster, as least in the light that I was shooting it.

dbriz wrote in post #10248267
Great work with the 400, pretty shots Stephen, I love that lens... At first glance, I thought the gull had a fishing line and sinker in the first shot, fortunately not.... my old eyes must be failing me
db

Thanks Dave, I knew that it had a fish but I only coudl tell that it was grass on the computer.

Diamond Lil wrote in post #10248959
Gulls can still be appreciated and I'm glad you made the photographs. All are very good, but that last one truly grabs me. Well done!

Thanks Lil.

Love the last one, Stephen. Gulls are great inflight practice.