Gull on a pier rail

I took this shot yesterday during my short stop at the Fort Baker fishing pier. The gull was keeping a vigilant eye on a noisy juvenile gull perched on the rail on the opposite side of the pier, but for a moment it looked my way long enough for me to grab this shot.

Gull at the Fort Baker fishing pier--black and white

I’m also posting the color image because I can’t decide which version I prefer.

Gull at the Fort Baker fishing pier--color

Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm at 85mm. 1/250 second at f/11, ISO 200.

Canon T2i seeing eye to eye.

At the Fort Baker fishing pier

Sunday was cool and cloudy in the Bay Area, but today it was full-on Indian Summer. Unfortunately the cloudless sky was filled with a brownish haze that didn’t make for photogenic vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. But it was such a warm afternoon I decided to head down to the water anyway, stopping at one of my favorite commute photo-taking stomping grounds, Fort Baker. Because the sky was unappealing, I looked for other views to fill the frame. I took several of these close-up shots of the fishing pier pilings reflecting on the water.

Pilings and reflection at the Fort Baker fishing pier

While I was focusing on the pilings this seal popped up to check me out. Fortunately, I had enough time to grab a quick shot before it swam off.

Seal by the Fort Baker fishing pier

Lens: Canon EF-S 15-85mm.
First image: lens at 70mm. 1/125 second at f/11, ISO 200.
Second image: lens at 85mm. 1/125 second at f/11, ISO 200.

Canon T2i focusing on the water.