With it being half-term, I took my daughters, Helen and Izzy, to the beach earlier this week. During our visit, I took this image of a couple of seagulls in flight.
I like the mixture of the sky, the sand and also the sea, which is visible through the grass. The original image was a little on the dark side so I have tinkered with the shadows and colour balance slightly.
I spent ages trying to take this photograph. We were at Camber Sands in Sussex, a beach renowned for its dunes. Helen and Izzy insisted in playing the dunes and while they did so, seagulls kept flying overhead.
I had my camera with me, but forgot to bring a memory card. I therefore had no choice but to take this picture on my phone and I’m pleasantly surprised at how it turned out.
You might think we enjoyed a sunny day at the beach. Alas, the picture above only tells part of the story.
When we arrived, the lifeguards had put the red flags up and were telling people not to go in the water. This was not because there were rough waves, but because it was terribly misty and the visibility was so poor.
About an hour before we left, glorious sunshine broke through the mist. Once the sun came out it really was beautiful. I fired off a large number of shots while the children played games in the dunes.
I’ve added this blog post to the #MySundayPhoto linky hosted on the brilliant Photalife blog. It’s a fantastic linky that will appeal to anyone with an interest in photography. Do click on the badge below to pay it a visit.
29 thoughts on “Curious seagulls at the beach”
It turned out really well, especially for a phone pic. I had nothing but lousy shots with my camera today but a few decent phone pics, go figure. I love how you got the gulls, jet and sun.
Yes, the jets in the background too. In fact I put a different shot on Instagram of a seagull flying between two vapour trails. Thanks for commenting.
Argh! I’ve done that so many times (I now carry a spare card in my camera bag – although that doesn’t help when I’ve just shoved the camera in my backpack). Thank goodness phones are so good now. You’ve taken a lovely shot, especially with the position of the sun. #MySundayPhoto
Yes exactly, I had two bags to choose from and it was the bag I didn’t take that had the SD card zipped in it. Irritating, but we’ve all done it.
I get so annoyed with myself when I leave my memory card in the laptop. It’s not a bad idea taking a spare but you’ve captured this so well. Love how the light is breaking through!
We cam all forget an SD card can’t we? Sometimes a phone is the only camera we have and we have to make the best of it. Delighted to hear you liked the shot.
The seagulls can be a pest but they do make a striking photo.
The gulls can be quite terrifying I think. Thankfully they didn’t come too close although I half-expected to get dive-bombed a few times.
Hi John, I’m learning that phone cameras aren’t so bad (it’s just mine that is!). I would have had no idea that your photo was taken on a phone. I do like the feel of your photo which has been set by the lighting. I can imagine lying in the dunes listening to the sound of the sea and the gulls, which brings back memories of fun times in the sand dunes at Dawlish Warren.
xx
Ooooo Dawlish Warren. Not a place I’ve ever been. You have, nonetheless, got the sounds perfectly! Glad you can’t tell it’s a phone shot. Trouble it, camera phones are getting so good in certain conditions.
Playing in the dunes is always fun, although now I prefer to sit with a thermos of hot chocolate rather than hurling myself off them. Great picture #MySundayPhoto
It was a little warm for hot chocolate, truth be told. I wasn’t hurling myself off dunes, I left that to the kids!
Oh John how did you forget, have I taught you nothing?
Awesome capture with a phone
Thank you for linking up
Ah, now you see since we met I have bought an entirely new camera back, thinking myone was insufficient. Not wanting to burden myself with a large bag, however, I bought my old one (the one that appears in teh film we made). Guess which bag had the spare SD card in? yes, my new one which stayed at home.
I always keep a spare sd card in my camera bag after forgetting too often. Pretty great picture for a camera phone though. Looks very atmospheric
We’ve all done it haven’t we. forgetting the SD card? Lukcily phones are so good these days they make for a good back-up.
What a great capture – especially as it was on your phone. It is really well timed with the shape of the birds and the position of the sun.
Interesting you say that. I rejected lots of pics on the basis the shape of the birds wasn’t quite right.
Fab photo! It’s really hard to get a good photo of flying birds so well done #MySundayPhoto
Thanks Sharon. It can be very tricky to get pics of moving birds can’t it?
Fantastic photo! I have a few seagull pictures on my phone from our day at the beach last week. hehehe
It sounds like a lovey day x
Ah yes, we had great fun on the day. Glad you like the pic.
Such a lovely shot. I am always amazed at how big seagulls are! 😀 #sundayphoto
Oh yeah, they can be very big. I was worried a few of them may swoop down and attack me! I was a sitting target after all.
Glad the sun eventually came out for your day at the beach. I love the way it is breaking out through the clouds in your photo 🙂
A real clear shot! I always try to take photos of them but they are too fast for me and my cam =) #mysundayphoto
Just goes to show that a photo really can tell a thousand words!
Your patience paid dividends as the photo is great, and doesn’t show that the weather was grey & misty but at least the girls got to run around in the Dunes. But still, not bad going with a photo phone
#SundayPhoto
Thanks Tracey. rarely am I called patient!
I do all my photos on my phone. I wish I had a camera to do better but I am always amazed at how well my phone captures shots. Yours looks great! Love the seagulls and how you’ve got the dunes in too. Look forward to seeing you tomorrow #mysundayphoto