Brown Pelican

Gallery: AvianPosted June 24, 2010162 views16 comments

From my March trip to Florida. In light of what's happening in the gulf, I'm appreciating my shots of these birds even more.

d300 w/200-400mm
f/8
1/500
iso 200
HH
Full Frame

All comments and critique are welcomed and appreciated.

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Michele Williams on June 24, 2010 at 9:12 PM

Doug, This is a gorgeous shot ... you have really captured the beauty of the brown pelican. I am not an expert on the technical aspects of photography (I'm working on that) but I can say that this shot, together with the reminder of what is happening to so many wild birds and mammals in the Gulf area, makes a powerful statement. Thanks for sharing.
~Michele Williams (volunteer wildlife rehabilitator in Melbourne, Florida)

Registered on April 3, 2010, 28 Posts, 146 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on June 25, 2010 at 12:34 AM

Am surprised at the number of comments this wonderful image has got. Love this image ..and could this have been diagonal ..?

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 25, 2010 at 1:18 AM

VERY nice!
Excellent detail and colors. Love the ruffled neck and pose.
My only suggestion would have been to move the eye off-center a bit more.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on June 25, 2010 at 3:26 AM

I'll say!

This image is quite poignant to me as I think of the setting of the Gulf, too. The pelican is calm, resting, undisturbed, safe enough to relax. Beautiful photograph.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on June 25, 2010 at 8:51 AM

Very nice portrait, Doug! Fine details.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on June 25, 2010 at 10:24 AM

Love it! Very artistic with interesting lines formed by the wing and neck. The detail is great and shows off the beauty of this species in a way that most people would never appreciate without a shot like this.

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on June 25, 2010 at 11:43 AM

Hi Doug,
Very nice details and dof. Good control of the whites. The darker background really allows the pelican to stand out nicely.
Thanks for posting,
Ronnie G.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on June 25, 2010 at 2:41 PM

Great pose, lovely BG, and a poignant reminder of the how delicate these birds are... thrust in an environment they can't control.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on June 25, 2010 at 4:43 PM

Very nice protrait, Doug. Beautiful background that goes well with the plumage and great eye. Your techs are perfect and I like your choice of composition very much.

Sad to think about the situation in the gulf - just when these birds are coming out of the pesticide attack, they have this to contend with.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on June 25, 2010 at 4:46 PM

wonderful, great details and composition

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 25, 2010 at 6:25 PM

A really nice portrait Doug, the shapes and tectures make this shot for me.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on June 25, 2010 at 9:17 PM

These are wonderful birds Dan, with so much character and detail. As you say, the current disaster makes it all the more poignant. You've got nice details and a good exposure. compositionally, I think I'd prefer taking a little off on the right.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on June 26, 2010 at 1:17 AM

A really nice portrait, Doug. Great pose!

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments

Comment posted by Onno de Rover on June 27, 2010 at 2:30 AM

Hi Doug, I like this kind of crop very much so.... well done.

Registered on December 29, 2009, 38 Posts, 63 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on June 27, 2010 at 9:31 AM

I like this very much Doug. It's the pose and composition that distinguishes the image but the details and the bg are excellent supporting elements as well. Beautiful work.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on June 27, 2010 at 3:27 PM

A very beautiful image,Doug. The composition is outstanding. "Poignant" especially in light of the oil disaster is what it communicates so well.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments