I took this while travelling on a small fast boat on the Amazon about 5 weeks ago. I decided to field a wide-view picture rather than a single bird close up. Having said that, I have altered it by removing a few branches from the original - in particular I wanted to help the story of the top right bird complaining to the one flying in. I am very new to doing this sort of thing as I don’t use Photoshop and Lightroom has recently introduced an Ai assisted method of achieving this. Not much other PP was necessary. I’ve included an extra image taken the same day of a large-biller Tern flying for interest. These birds are mostly seen in Brazil and neighbouring countries.
Settings - Taken with Olympus equipment including 100-400mm f5.6-6.3 lens at 400mm (so 800 FF) - 1/1,600 at f6.3 & ISO 320. I am a member of Nature+ Group 72 and my image this month is of a pair of Brown Booby birds having a fight over a flying fish - I mention this in case any of you wish to look there.
This round’s discussion is now closed! 7 comments posted
Bruce Benson
Adrian, nice capture of the terns, I have never seen a group like this so is interesting to see. Bruce Posted: 03/12/2025 12:16:00
Jerry Biddlecom
The craggy and swirling lines of the dead tree provide an excellent visual base, or perch, for the birds. Nice background. I like the way that the entire contents of the picture (birds and tree) are present, so that the negative space provides a frame. Interesting tension between the landing bird and the squawking bird. Posted: 03/13/2025 16:38:00
Adrian Binney
Thank you Jerry. Posted: 03/21/2025 18:47:18
Steve Cole
Adrian, congrats on you skills for an environmental capture while speeding along in a boat. What a neat capture especially of the one bird's welcoming action. I love this group sharing their world wild travel "bird shots" that I will never venture to see. I went to Group 71 to see your action photo there ... very nice too. Posted: 03/15/2025 10:07:19
Adrian Binney
Steve - thank you and yes it I'd different looking out for photo opportunities when zooming along, then snapping quickly, hoping the camera setting I've changed to end up right. They aren't always! Posted: 03/21/2025 18:49:42
Cindy Marple
Such a nice story-telling image. Your choice to remove the branch helps a lot with the interaction at the top. But what appeals to me most is the shape of the branches. Everything is facing the same way- all the Terns are facing the same direction as the branches are pointing. It gives a nice sense of movement and flow. The only deviation from this direction is the squawking bird, which gives that even more emphasis. Well done. Posted: 03/16/2025 12:35:18
Adrian Binney
Thank you Cindy. I hadn't thought about the single direction facing of everything - whilst liking the scene - you've identified why it works! Posted: 03/21/2025 18:50:29
