Today Chris and I went on a search for some unusual bird species that have been spotted lately in the central New York area. First we drove to the Southern Highlands region of New York state to search for Pine Grosbeaks in Nelson and the surrounding towns. We drove for a couple of hours and many miles on backroads where hundreds of the uncommon birds had been spotted, but took not a single frame, as we only saw a handful of the Pine Grosbeaks from a distance. Afterwards, we headed to a dam in Phoenix, New York where two unusual species of gull, Iceland and Glaucous, had been spotted. Chris and I searched among the hundreds of gulls for the rare species, but saw only the more common Ring-billed, Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls. Instead of wasting the drive, I snapped a few photographs of the Ring-billed Gulls and Herring Gulls in flight before we headed home. When out shooting, I recommend photographing the subjects you find, even if they aren’t what you originally planned to photograph. By shooting anyway, even if the subjects you come across are rather ordinary, you can practice your skills, challenge yourself to shoot in new and creative ways, or just get different shots to add to your stock files, such as this photograph of a Ring-billed Gull in flight that I took today.

Techs: Canon 1D Mark II N, 300mm f/2.8L IS, 2x Mark II Extender, 1/2000s, f/8, ISO 400.  To order this print, purchase stock rights, or view other photos I have for sale, please visit my website at www.karipost.com.