Birds in Nature - images of wild birds by Richard Ditch

Subject: Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
Place: Atlantic Ocean, coastal NJ, USA
Date: January 1993
Equipment: Nikon 8008, Nikkor 75-300/5.6 AF, handheld
Film: Fujichrome Sensia 100
Exposure: Aperture priority matrix metered
Scan: Minolta Dimage

Commentary: Kittiwakes are birds of the ocean, seldom seen from shore or on beaches except in stormy weather or when nesting. If you don't have access to the nesting grounds, the best way to see these birds is by taking a pelagic birding trip off the coast. This was one of many birds seen on such a trip, and it was an ideal subject for trying out auto focus on a moving subject. I like the image for its basic simplicity: a clear blue sky, a white bird, black legs, and just a touch of yellow.