Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973)
by pixelpal

Comment by FourPointX:
feels like a shoehorn great image though

Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973)
by pixelpal

Comment by KarenNfld:
Very good focus for a moving bird.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973)
by pixelpal

Comment by hotpasta:
Go Neil Diamond! Great close up... and in flight as well...8

Pause That Refreshes
by pixelpal

Comment by jmritz:
That is the the perfect pose. Great humor

CEO George C. Gull's Official Portrait
by pixelpal

Comment by MaryO:
LOL! Great portrait and nice job on naming him. And the border, might I add, works perfectly.

Pause That Refreshes
by pixelpal

Comment by KarenNfld:
Very good.

Signs Of Our Times
by pixelpal

Comment by bohemka:
Great photo. Very clever concept and well executed. Perfect composition and super sharp. Nice.

CEO George C. Gull's Official Portrait
by pixelpal

Comment by Paul:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: An image that startles with its quality. I don't use the word lightly. We often get some decent bird offering in the Free Study but this offers something above and beyond that sort of work. I got the blue ribbon for 'Portrait of a Wild Bird' 13 months ago and this image is soooooo much better in every way to that offering. Difficult to make an effective comment on work such as this without just trotting out superlatives but I'll try. The lighting (just a flash?) works so well, isolating and emphasising the gull, the focus is nailed but more than that, the smoothness of the image is outstanding. I'll be interested to see what sensor you are using, in my work I only get this look using a full frame camera. I also wonder whether you used the Adamus sharpening technique; again it seems to offer a degree of smoothness I can't seem to manage by other routes. The contrast you have offered between the vibrant yellow beak and eyes and the colour-monochrome of the feathers is so effective. Your model too has performed beautifully, offering up an intent quizzical look.

Critical stuff: Ummm..... No.

Overall: Simply outstanding - I hope you ribbon (and with an 8+ score).

CEO George C. Gull's Official Portrait
by pixelpal

Comment by vawendy:
love it!!!!! Just perfect!

Pause That Refreshes
by pixelpal

Comment by aj1621:
I love that you chose a natural setting. It's lit well and just works.