G U L L S @ S U N D O W N, a photo from Uttar Pradesh, North

Photographer's Note

The confluence of the three sacred Indian rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati in Allahabad is not only one of the holiest places in the country for Hindu pilgrims but is also the favourite haunt of thousands of visitors from Central Asia and Europe during the winter months. These are the Brownheaded and Blackheaded Gulls who feed on the religious offerings made to the River Goddess. These gulls are extremely noisy, especially at colonies, with a familiar "kree-ar" call. During Ardh-Kumbh these foreign visitors were very much part of the festivities around. This feathered couple was captured on camera as they flew to their roosting spot in the evening. An earlier picture in this series can be seen here.

anjan, isabela_sor, snunney, partha, jaywalker, delkoo, siolaw, Dpbours, teutza, john_c, nirajsinha, besnard, lilimih33, evanrizo, Henryk_Bilor, Serendipity, atus, PJE, sanalytis, alejandroguzman, Silvio1953, photographer123, salvator, syd1946, riclopes, chrisnet, singuanti, axiotea, AiresSantos, kiwi_explorer, zeca, bakes888, TeresaT, josepmarin, JCG, NellyD, pierrefonds has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jasmis (58653) 2007-02-09 7:27

Simple, almost symbolic photo. This is story about love and freedom. This is my interpretation.
Regards.

ksvijayb (385) 2007-02-09 7:29

absolutely stunning shot.....

anjan (1086) 2007-02-09 7:31

What amazes me is ur ability to churn out super shots one after another Sabya. The flight of ur feathered frnds have been nicely frozen. Ur exposure settings make interesting reading.
Anjan

isabela_sor (47748) 2007-02-09 7:35

Flying to the sun ...amazing capture,dear Sabya!!I like this picture so much
Thanks for sharing
A nice weekend
Isabela

snunney (130967) 2007-02-09 7:39

Hello Sabyasachi,
Not much to say about this except that it is a beautiful image with a great feeling of peace and serenity. TFS.

barrufeto_77 (28888) 2007-02-09 7:41

Hi Sabyasachi.

My compliments for the picture and the note.

The colours, the silhouettes..all excellent.

Rgs, Oscar

suhan (3552) 2007-02-09 7:42

wonderful composition, cadrage and colours...
very well done.
tfs-best regards
merve-s悤eyman

partha (14023) 2007-02-09 7:47

Hi Sabyasachi da,
Nice triangle formed by the two birds and the Sun.Perfect timing and nice positioning u have managed to capture.
Great shot with excellent colourtonality.
Regards.
Partha

MIG13 (0) 2007-02-09 7:53

What a beautiful scene, Sabyasachi! You've done it in warm colours, in a well composed pic. Well done! TFS! Best regards! Miguel.

GerdVDC (0) 2007-02-09 7:57

This is really spectacular in its simplicity. Carried our perfectly and the tone of the orange is really beautiful.

Great, really great work!

All the best,
Gerd

jaywalker (16105) 2007-02-09 9:01

Hi Sabyasachi, Excellent colour & beauty in the warmth the photo portrays, the silhouettes of the two gulls are fantastic & well balenced, overall a superbly composed shot, kind regards Wilson.

eza1701 (3345) 2007-02-09 9:03

Hi Sabyasachi,

Your camera handling is obviously superb, shooting into the sun and capturing such a clear image isn't easy but you have done it perfectly here.

Best regards,
Paul.

delkoo (68) 2007-02-09 9:06

hi sabyasachi
Two birds in the sky which go to burn theirs wings in the sun like "kamikaze", In a last sacrifice of theirs freedom.

great meaning
didier

siolaw (38294) 2007-02-09 9:51

Hi Sabyasachi,
Good timing there in catching thebirds around the sun, nice framing and pleasant placement of elements in the picture..
Beauty
Laurent

faubry (35447) 2007-02-09 9:57

hello Sabya, it s a pleasure to see your shot, and all day i am waitng for they... very beautiful orange color
well done
soon
francine

Dpbours (222) 2007-02-09 10:33

Hello Sabyasachi,

I love the explanation! Very useful.

And finally a picture of India without women in colourful clothes, closeups of old men or street beggars and blurry pictures of holy places at dawn. Nothing wrong with that. It's just that all those people in in most of those pictures are recovering at home at night from all those tourists with their red AF lights and fill-in flashes zooming in on them.

A very simple picture, but for sure not an easy one. I don't have the patience for gulls ;-). But I love this picture. Especially knowing it is India, since you moved your focus away from all those 'traditional picture perfect moments' and went for the gulls.

Very nice! Dennis

Cormac (26565) 2007-02-09 10:34

Great shot! This is simple but very powerful. The positioning of the birds and the sun is good, and the colour is good too. I like that you zoomed right in to get a close view of the birds. Excellent!

teutza (10590) 2007-02-09 10:52

Hello Sabya,
wow!!what perfect claritty..amasing composition my friend...
it gives me such nice warm feelings:)
TFS!
teo

john_c (24666) 2007-02-09 11:37

Hi Sabyasachi,
You caught these two scavengers at a decisive moment, with the pair nicely balancing one another in the frame, all beneath a heavently copper toned sky. You controlled the light well here to prevent undue glare from the sun. Very impressive work.
John

ivo (376) 2007-02-09 11:55

Hello Sabyasachi,
Composition ****
Subject ***
Perspective **
Colour and light ****
Crop ***
Frame ***
Sharpness ****
Generally ***
Note ***
Best regards,
Emma

Budapestman (82620) 2007-02-09 12:24

Dear Sabyasachi,
Gorgeous impression. I like the fabled atmosphere. Refined and beautiful shot! I think its perfect. Congratulations.
Thank you, nice days
George

nirajsinha (857) 2007-02-09 12:54

Hi Sabya!
excellent catch of great moment. Your photograaphs are real online learning for newcomer like me.

TFS

besnard (59196) 2007-02-09 13:14

Bonsoir Sabyasachi
Tu nous proposes un superbe clich� avec des oiseaux bien positionn廥. Le tout est d'une grande nettet�. J'ai m瘱e l'impression de voir au travers des ailes.
Tous mes compliments et bonne sosir嶪.
Nicole

pat0500 (21561) 2007-02-09 13:28

Hi Saby,
Always beautiful photographs I see, always the same team, you and canon.:-)
Beautiful shot here and very pretty colours, this simple but very good composition..!
Best regards,
Have a nice weekend.
Patrick

Cricri (176) 2007-02-09 13:29

Bonsoir Sabyasachi,
Un joli et tendre moment bien capturer des oiseaux et du soleil aux couleurs magique
compliment
bonne soir嶪
amiti�
cricri

lilimih33 (9918) 2007-02-09 13:41

Hello Sabyasachi!
Lovely perspective and beautiful colours in your composition!
Excellent done!
Lili

evanrizo (462) 2007-02-09 13:51

It is sooo beautyful! It is excellent, wonderful, light,compo,colors and symbolic are very very good.
Thanks for share it.
Evan

Henryk_Bilor (20803) 2007-02-09 14:45

Hi Sabyasachi
Great silhouettes captured against the Sun. Excellent contrast and colours.
Regards

lasscor (7640) 2007-02-09 14:50

Hi Sabyasachi,
Lovely peaceful composition, full of freedom.
TFS,
Corinne

Serendipity (1045) 2007-02-09 16:13

Very nice picture, so poetic !
I see it as a good illustration of freedom.
TFS.
Marc.

rhizomes (15343) 2007-02-09 17:03

Hi Sabyasachi,
Nice sunset with this great color ! Nice sensation of freedom given by these gulls !
Christophe

toni_al (15875) 2007-02-09 18:07

Salut Sabyasachi
Simplement superbe, les oiseaux sont tr鋊 bien plac廥.
Toni

pilpel-adom (3018) 2007-02-09 18:43

Hey Sabyasachi!
Very effective silhouettes of the gulls at flight with good composition that divides them with the sun in between...
Simple and romantic...Well done!
TFS!
Chen

atus (15878) 2007-02-09 21:06

Hello Sabyasachi,
wonderful minimalistic and at the same time very difficult shot. Greatly captured, while the birds have flown in the direction of the sun. Very good zoom and great tones of yellow/orange. A shot of a fantastic atmosphere. Very well done!
Tfs and best wishes.
Attila

PJE (20758) 2007-02-09 23:21

Hello Sabyasachi. I do hope you are enjoying your 400Xti DSLR. Its the next one I want to buy shortly. Your photo showing the beauty of these two gulls flying in the setting sun has a mystical character to it. Excellent composition. Thanks for sharing. I posted a photo on a Sand Sculpture showing the wonder of India. I was wondering if you could help me with some background information. If you have time....thank you!

sanalytis (1634) 2007-02-10 2:06

Hi Sabyasachi,

Your composition is exceptional. The colors and silhoutte of the birds is also excellent. It simply a beautiful photograph...congratulations.

Spiros

hay_kes (31439) 2007-02-10 3:40

Hi Sabyasachi,
Just a wonderful compositon.İmpressive colours and silhouette.TFS.
Cheers!

hAyAti

jhm (211738) 2007-02-10 3:51

Hi Sabyasachi,

Very lovely picture, the sun between the two birds, everything with very pleasant colour.
A top class picture!

Greetings from Belgium,
John.

ninaL (21348) 2007-02-10 3:53

Simple, elegant, attractive picture.
Just sun, sky and birds.
Lovely.
Best wishes. Grazyna.

alejandroguzman (4684) 2007-02-10 4:14

hello Sabyasachi:

first of all, thank you for sharing this WONDERFUL photograph.

It's a lovely and warm composition that nobody could resist to stop by and take a time to enjoy it.

+ DOF
+ colors / saturation

Hugs
Edgar

jemaflor (148306) 2007-02-10 5:21

Hi Sabyasachi,
Lovely light and colours and great effect with these birds, perfect capture, very well done as usual ...
later ...

Silvio1953 (223027) 2007-02-10 6:27

Hi Sabyasachi, fantastic backlight, great scene with two flyng bird, splendid light and amazing color, very well done, have a nice week end, greetings from Italy, ciao Silvio

photographer123 (6248) 2007-02-10 6:43

Hi sabya,
its very simple but very good shot..best wishes..subir

Albrecht (11283) 2007-02-10 9:29

Hi Sabyasachi
Excelent moment and compo;great scene and good colours and sharpness.
greetings from Holland
~Albrecht~

syd1946 (1167) 2007-02-10 12:08

Hello Sabyasachi,
Indeed you capured an amazing scene with the flying birds and the hot sun.Very impresive shot,good timing!
Have a nice weekend,
Thomas

agbonavita (0) 2007-02-10 14:04

Wonderful! I have no words for this pretty photo Sabyasachi!

Good colors and incredable sulhuetes of the gulls!

Well done
Andre

jjcordier (79299) 2007-02-10 14:51

Une image tr鋊 po彋ique et de toute beaut�!Bravo, Sabyasachi.
Amicalement
JJ

riclopes (35577) 2007-02-11 7:43

Ol� Sabyasachi, are you making a series? Than the next one will have to have three gulls, right? :-))))))))
A brilliant action shot, I would say. I like it even more than the previous one. Spectacular couple of sharp sillouettes so well placed in the composition. Really good my friend!
Have a nice sunday,
Ricardo

bhuniatrekearth (764) 2007-02-11 9:18

Dear Sabyasachi,
The birds are flying to the source of energy.
This picture is above all criticism and explanation. Just to watch and feel inside.

Best wishes
Dr. J. Bhunia

Fis2 (172023) 2007-02-11 13:16

Witaj Sabyasachi!
Very interesting colors. Curious composition. Symbolic photo, birds make impression. Good work.
Greetings from Poland
Krzysztof

salvator (19110) 2007-02-11 13:20

Hi sabyasachi,
Beautifull these colors of the sunset, and the silouettes of the two seagulls. The composition is superb my friend. I wish you a nice weekend. Best regards. salvator.

singuanti (15250) 2007-02-11 22:22

Hi Sabyasachi. Wow another most impressive shot in this series! You perfectly exposed for the sun and don't have any lens flare. You used that zoom lens to your advantage. What colors as well. Fantastic catch Sabyasachi!!

Angshu (56760) 2007-02-11 23:00

Dear Sabyasachi
Simple but stunning. I like the opposing flight angle of the two gulls..& on either side of the sun. Wonderful silhouette shot with zoom. The colour tones on the sky is wonderful
Best Wishes
Angshuman

axiotea (21651) 2007-02-11 23:40

Hello Sabyasachi,
Excellent timing in capturing these birds flying around the setting sun, in this extraordinary orange sky. The sun itself looks very good as it is not even burned. Makes me think of Icarus' myth!
Cheers
Marilyn

AiresSantos (56155) 2007-02-12 2:21

Hi Sabyasachi,
Very nice composition with great silhouettes and very beautiful tones.
Light very well managed, interesting
note
TFs and greetings
Aires

chrisnet (23062) 2007-02-12 3:59

Hello Saby,
The fly of these gulls is amazing! Yes, the symbol of this photo is freedom,very good capture, all my congratulations!
Best regards
Christian

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2007-02-12 5:07

Hi Sabyasachi,
Another perfect composition from the master. Simple and neat but very striking... very good contrast. Excellent! TFS
Cheers,
Renier

brevbrev14 (140) 2007-02-12 6:52

Hi Sabya, beautiful minimalist poetic shot!
strong contrast of the birds against the sun!
a great sense of peace and freedom from the position of the two birds!
great work...as always from you!
ciao!
Valeria

cherryripe (21033) 2007-02-12 7:21

Hi Sabyasachi
The gulls and sun are well placed in the frame to render this composition dynamique. The orange sky is stunning.
I find the writing in your note too dark. It hurts the eyes and distracts from the photo.
Regards
Nikki

sothy81 (9646) 2007-02-12 19:33

Hi Sabyasachi, what a wonderful image. Very well done in exposuring to the sun. The UV filter play a great deal in here. Well used and well seen. Wonderful work. Sothy

sayat (2949) 2007-02-13 11:29

Excellent silhouette effect. Perfect shot. TFS,
Sayat

zeca (19762) 2007-02-14 8:26

My friend...you are becoming better and better day after day! This shot is beautiful! Well done everything here! Congratulations!
Regards,
Zeca

danyy (0) 2007-02-15 4:38

Bonjour Sabyasachi,
des photos tr鋊 professionnelles tout au long de ta galerie et cela quelles que soient les conditions ou les sujets.
Ici un excellent cadrage avec une matrise totale d'un contre jour difficile, des couleurs chaudes et finement d嶲rad嶪s autour du soleil.
Les oiseaux avec ici un mouvement d'envol et de d廧art puisqu'ils nous tournent le dos.
Une toute bonne r嶧lisation sur tous les plans.

Best regards.
Daniel.

pablominto (53746) 2007-02-15 13:27

Hello Sabyasachi,
A composition full of nature's beauty!
Good balance, great colours...
Greetings,
Pablo -

...

bakes888 (18499) 2007-02-17 2:33

Hi Sabyasachi. Great photo. I love the graphical nature of this shot. Simple but strong composition and strong colours. Alas I see you have the dreaded sensor dust spots on your image, easy fixed with the clone tool though. Great work and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

TeresaT (10806) 2007-02-21 17:45

Hello Sabyasachi,
Wonderful minimalistic composition.
The dark sihluettes of the birds realaly contrast with this fabulous orange sky.
Perfect light.
Regards
Teresa

josepmarin (59385) 2007-02-23 13:55

Hi, my friend Sabyasachi,
This one is another great photo, with a great simplicity in his composition, but of an indisputable beauty.
The silhouettes of the gulls in this great backlighting, and the Sun on an orange sky they form an excellent, very impressive image.
A very nice shot.
Best regards,
Josep

JCG (35153) 2007-02-23 15:10

Hi Sabyasachi,

An image full with poetry, it is very beautiful and a pleasur for the eyes. I appreciate much the clearness of the photograph. The soft colors are very pleasant. Very well seen, cheer.
Thank you for the comment very sympathetic for my 200th photograph. The green color on the beach are algae.

With greetings from France and a good WE,

Jean-Charles

NellyD (1874) 2007-02-24 13:39

Hi Sabyasachi,

This is a very beautiful shot.
Calm, relaxing, soothing with beautiful golden colours.
Great moment and excellent silhouttes of those two birds.
Well done!
TFS

Greetings, Nel

pierrefonds (115624) 2007-03-10 11:38

Hi Sabyasachi,

A nice photo of the sunset which is giving nice colors to the photo and of the gulls in the shadow. The photo has a good composition and sharpness. Have a nice day.

Pierre