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Seals At Donna Nook


Seals At Donna Nook
Photo Information
Copyright: Miles Herbert (CaptiveLight) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 435 W: 61 N: 232] (969)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 40d, Canon 100 - 400 L USM IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Joe's Favourites 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-04 8:38
Viewed: 4055
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Atlantic Grey Seals, Halichoerus grypus, taken at Donna Nook in Lincolnshire over the weekend.

Donna Nook has one of the largest breeding seal colonies in the UK, and at a place easily accessible to the general public. It is a short easy walk from the car parks to the breeding areas where the majority of pups are born, and the public can follow a path along the edge of the sanctuary area, within easy viewing distance of the seals. This year they have built a double fence to separate the closest seals from people, as last year several new born pups were right up against the single fence and touchable.

For the more those who want more natural images with less restricted views, you can walk out across the mud flats and through the mud to the sand bar that runs along the coast, skirting the back edge of the cordoned off sanctuary area. Out here you are unsupervised, as are the seals, so a little common sense is needed to stay safe.

Photographic opportunities are amazing out on the sand bar, with seals swimming in the surf, pups and their protective mums lying above the high tide mark, and older pups playing in the waves. We found people from as far afield as Holland, who had come to photograph these beautiful animals in their natural environment.

Birthing only lasts a few short weeks, with mid Nov to mid Dec generally accepted as the best time to go, as this is when the females are in the sanctuary area giving birth, after New Year it's all over, and the seals have returned to the sea.

Well worth a visit, but remember to protect your camera and lenses from salt spray, and worse, wind blown sand. Get down low and shoot for a seals eye view of the world, and because it spooks the seals less if you are kneeling or prone.
Robbrown, earthtraveler, LordPotty, Patleboss, alguazul, PaulH has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1739 W: 224 N: 6872] (24909)
  • [2007-12-04 8:47]

Hello Miles,
IMHO this is your best post so far!
Each picture is just perfect!
I especially love the top-right one... it reminds me of my dog after it's had a bath ;)
Very well done.
This is a new addition to my favourites theme :D
Thanks,
Joe

Wonderful postcard, Miles.
Bright colours mixed with wonderful light. Great content; good postures, portraits, natural habitat,...
Well done!
TFS
Annick

Famous Four!

wish I could give 4 marks!

Subhayan.

Hi Miles,
Fun compilation of these Seals.
Cute creatures you have captured well.
Great POV and details well seen.
TFS
Richard

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2007-12-04 11:22]

Hi Miles,
looks like your jaunt north was well worth it. What a superb selection of shots, my favourite, purely for the cuteness factor is the bottom right :o) Each one though is perfectly exposed with super sharp clarity. Defintely now on my list for places to visit, sounds like you had a great time.
Paul

A great presentation of thee seals Miles.
One looks like a banana,one like a pig,and the two pups are just plain cute.
Perfect exposure and detail on all of them.
Very nicely done.
Cheers
Steve

Wouaw Miles,
realy splendid,
all shot are perfectly composed with a perfect focus and splendid natural colors,
a great cheer,
friendly,
Pat

What a wonderful collection of photos you compiled here. I love the action in the two left side shots and the eyes in the right side shots. Exposure, color and sharpness all look great to me.

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 0 N: 847] (3307)
  • [2007-12-05 13:34]

This is a great collection of fine shots Miles, you are an excellent photographer. Each shot is well presented and all have good light, detail and colours. It would look good as a postcard, poser, front cover of mag and many more. Great work.
tfs
debz

Hello Miles
Even it's possible that we passed very close in the beach of Donna Nook. I was there on saturday 1stDec... Your images are all beautiful. I prefer that of the pup in the upper right corner because the light and colour and this floor of blue undulated water... wonderful!

PS. You see that there were not only Dutch there, but also Spaniards...

  • Great 
  • Karin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 418 W: 5 N: 268] (2089)
  • [2008-01-14 14:38]

Hi MIles,
Missed this beauty before. Beautiful compilation, all with a great light use and control.
I love the baby rolling with his mother.
Very good job and TFS

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2008-02-02 4:14]

Hello Miles,
This is a great collage that deserves more credit. Each of these four Atlantic Grey Seal images is of high quality with a good variation of poses and POV's. The pups look very appealing.
Great work and thanks for sharing this.
Best wishes, Ivan

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