Cleared for landing

VanGone · Mar 15, 2009

Lots of these migrating through Iowa lately
Van

Cynangyl · Mar 15, 2009

You sure got some pretty pics of them. Thanks for sharing!

seger98 · Mar 15, 2009

Absolutely beautiful photos! The third one down is really good!

River Rat · Mar 15, 2009

Gosh, those are some beautiful shots :thumbsup:

RR

fossis · Mar 15, 2009

Great shots

Fossis..................

RON (PA) · Mar 15, 2009

Awesome photos. Thanks for sharing...It looks like you were flying with them.

godisnum1 · Mar 15, 2009

Seagulls through Iowa? Really?
Huh....

Bran <><

Tubecity · Mar 15, 2009

Great shots, just got a new Canon camera but I'm not nearly ready for those shots yet.
The camera is way too smart for me so far. Stopped them in flight, really nice pics.

VanGone · Mar 15, 2009

Thanks Cyn

Thanks seger98,its appreciated. I shot lots of pictures of them and one heck of a lot were out of focus. They move pretty fast!

Thank you River, Lots of them to take pictures of.

Thanks Fossis,it was a pretty day to be out here in Iowa,60 degrees.

Thanks Ron. Some people were throwing bread for them to eat and they were just every where. Lots so close it was hard to catch a shot..

We do actually get these kind of Gulls that are white with black tips on there wings.I don't know where they end up for the Summer.

Tubecity these were shot with a Canon Rebel XTI with a 300mm lens at very close range.I just point the camera and it does the work. Have fun with the one you bought,try different things with it and you will learn it. There not all that complicated.What Canon did you buy?

Thanks all !
Van

Muddy Feet · Mar 16, 2009

Very cool photos, we get them here in Minnesota also, you see them flocking around farmers when they work the fieids up. I assume looking for worms?

*Molly* · Mar 16, 2009

Awesome pics, thanks for sharin'

Molly.

warsawdaddy · Mar 16, 2009

godisnum1 said:
Seagulls through Iowa? Really?
Huh....

Bran <><

Hey Bran,we have some up here along with the brown pelicans.

Tubecity · Mar 16, 2009

VanGone,
A few months ago I got the Canon XSI with the EFS 18 - 55 & the 75 - 300 telephoto lens.
Believe me, I know little about it & had to get the camera & lens out so I could post this.
It's my first SLR, everything else I had was more or less point & shoot. I like to see all the
nice shots everyone posts here. I just have to learn the camera & do some experimenting.

COUNTRY GIRL · Mar 16, 2009

Wow! Nice shots Van! Funny bunch of folks took bird pictures this weekend, I still have to download mine when I get home, see what I got. You are right they sure do move fast. Were you using a tri-pod? I brought mine, but it was quite a hike so I left it in the car and "winged" it.

VanGone · Mar 16, 2009

Tubecity said:
VanGone,
A few months ago I got the Canon XSI with the EFS 18 - 55 & the 75 - 300 telephoto lens.
Believe me, I know little about it & had to get the camera & lens out so I could post this.
It's my first SLR, everything else I had was more or less point & shoot. I like to see all the
nice shots everyone posts here. I just have to learn the camera & do some experimenting.

The Canon you bought is a better one then the one I use. The 18/55 is one of the lens I bought with mine. The tele I have .I bought separate from the camera. Take your time and don't be afraid of the camera. You will do just fine with it.I'm still learning things as I use mine. One thing by having a SLR camera,if you choose to have or try different lens set up,then you can do it, You will find with these cameras,regardless of which brand,they will pull you in and have you wanting to up date to bigger lens etc,but with me my pocket book is only so big and I use what I have. My 70/300 is far from what I would like to have,but it will have to do.When shooting birds,regardless of how powerful of a lens you have,get as close as they will let you.These Gulls were very close(10 to 15 feet) Have fun and post some pictures.
Van

VanGone · Mar 16, 2009

Muddy Feet said:
Very cool photos, we get them here in Minnesota also, you see them flocking around farmers when they work the fieids up. I assume looking for worms?

Thanks Muddyfeet, These birds were flocking up because people were feeding them. There probably similar to the ones you get in Minnesota.
Van

VanGone · Mar 16, 2009

COUNTRY GIRL said:
Wow! Nice shots Van! Funny bunch of folks took bird pictures this weekend, I still have to download mine when I get home, see what I got. You are right they sure do move fast. Were you using a tri-pod? I brought mine, but it was quite a hike so I left it in the car and "winged" it.

CG, These were shot hand held. I have a tripod,but as you said,its to much work carrying it around.I shot some more today and I was really having problems with them being in focus. My eyes are starting to give me problems in these older years.I just shoot away and hope when I get home I get at least one that I like. I process them using Irfanview,and I like the way it does on them. I crop first, then re size,then sharpen them. I do this in the order I stated as it is very important to do it this way.
Post some I'm looking forward to seeing them.
Van

VanGone · Mar 16, 2009

بلَباه said:
It must be amazing to be whirling so free against blue skies, majestically soaring and gliding and constantly searching for carrion to gorge upon.

You described there behavior very good. With there white plumage against a blue sky they really are impressive.
Van

VanGone · Mar 16, 2009

Molly said:
Awesome pics, thanks for sharin'

Molly.

Thank you Molly.
Van

Ray S S · Mar 16, 2009

Van Gone, Wow! these are some beautiful shots. Who would have thought that seagulls could be so pretty? These are a
different breed than what we have around here and much prettier. The fourth one is pretty but I like the second one
the best. It shows the feather placement in the wings so neat. The black and the white contrast so sharp. You did
a good job of capturing them in flight.

Thanks for sharing.

Ray