Herring Gulls are, of course, easy. They stand on the shore of almost any larger body of water in the United States (and well beyond)…under picnic tables and grills, along tide lines, in parking lots…and they are fearless. All gulls are bullies, but the Herring Gull is the bully of the bunch, so secure in its dominance that it is relatively easy to approach. Indeed, if you stand still and look like you might harbor french fries it is quite likely to approach you.

This classic portrait was taken on in one of the park areas of Mission Bay Park in San Diego, just north of the Dana Hotel and Marina. I like the eye, and the bokeh.

Canon SX40HS at 1240mm equivalent field of view (840 optical plus 1.5x digital tel-extender function). f5.8 @ 1/640th @ ISO 100. Program with iContrast and –1/3EV exposure compensation.

Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.

And a second shot, with 2x DTE for 1680mm equivalent.

And finally the 3/4 shot.