Taking Flight
NIKON D3400
Aperture 6/1 ISO 100 Shutter 1/500 Focal Length 260/1 
Fernandina Beach, Florida, US
Jul, 2020Views
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Awards
Top Shot Award 22
Summer 2020
Absolute Masterpiece
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo on a summer trip to the beach, on the Atlantic Coast.Time
I was going on an early morning stroll down the beach, to admire the waves at low tide. At this time of day, the seagulls were wheeling around the sky. I caught this picture just as this particular seagull was hopping over a wave.Lighting
The sun was peeking out behind some clouds making everything a bit more defined and dramatic. The whole scene uses only natural lighting, reflected by the ocean.Equipment
I used my Nikon D-3400 and a 70-300mm Nikkor lens.Inspiration
The soft lighting and colors and the carefree way the seagull was jumping in the waves perfectly captured the atmosphere of the beach that morning, which is exactly the story I wanted to tell with this picture.Editing
I heightened the colors just slightly to give the photo a little more definition, but that's it. This photo was a miraculously perfect capture.In my camera bag
First and foremost, my spare battery. I always double check that it's in my bag, as I've had more than a few disasters on longer shoots. Of course I need my camera body, a Nikon D-3400, and my kit lens, the 18-55mm. In addition to that I have my Nikkor 70-300mm telephoto lens, and my various filters.Feedback
For wildlife photography, you always need to be ready to capture that perfect moment. Pick a location, set up your camera, and watch. Make sure you're ready to take the picture at the slightest notice, so you don't miss the moment you're going for.
