Class picture

Gallery: AvianPosted October 2, 2010986 views40 comments

American White Pelicans
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

This image cracks me up as it reminds me of how in elementary school we would all have to line up for the class picture. Shortest in the front, tallest in the back. I'd always be antsy, wanting to get back to whatever I had been doing while waiting for the inevitable "Say Cheese". Those school photographers must have had it rough trying to get everyone to look towards the camera at once.

Well here I was able to get eye contact from each of these 18 white pelicans, even the shy one hiding behind another bird on the right side of the frame.

These pelicans were feeding as a group, most of the time part of them would have their heads in the water while the others were looking up.

D200, lens resting on vehicle window, f7.1, 1/1500, ISO 400, EV -0.3, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 200mm, nearly full frame side to side, cropped to pano format, natural light. Aperture priority, auto WB, taken 09-11-2010 in Utah. Larger image posted.

Class dismissed!

As always, I sincerely appreciate your comments & critiques. Thank you for looking.

Comments

40 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 2, 2010 at 3:18 PM

Mia, just the fact that you were able to get an image with all these birds looking at you is amazing. It is so frustrating trying to get just a couple of birds to look at the camera at the same time let alone 18. I also like the light, exposure, and comp. I like the calm water in front and rougher water behind. Makes the image work for me. Very cool shot.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 2, 2010 at 3:27 PM

Very nice image. I am impressed. Had my first real chance at white pelicans this summer and was happy to have 4 in one photo. 18 all looking at you is unreal! Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on October 2, 2010 at 3:53 PM

That is so cool. Amazing you could get them all to look at you. I always love your light. Also how the water changes right at the row of pelicans. Very neat.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on October 2, 2010 at 4:16 PM

Mia,
the 18 eye contact make this image special. Very cool composition.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 2, 2010 at 4:20 PM

Mia, this is a multiple use image: it's a great image for jogging the memory, not only of school classes but also of presentation audiences as well as of review boards faced. You didn't mention how you got their attention: dangling a fish perhaps? Regarding comp: my first reaction was that maybe even more of a pano crop would work here and more could be taken from the bottom. However, I realized that it would not let us see the birds any more closely and might lessen the impact of the large number of birds as well. So, I'm fine with it as posted.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 2, 2010 at 4:25 PM

My thanks for the comments on this image so far.

Steve, nothing was done to get the pelicans to look at us, no baiting, this is one of several photos where I have all the birds looking at the camera. I don't remember if a vehicle had passed behind us and that got the pelicans attention. I also have shots where all the birds bottoms are in the air with their heads under water from this shoot. It is fun to watch them feed in a group.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 2, 2010 at 5:27 PM

A unique image; actually quite amazing to see all the pelicans in good position at the same time.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 2, 2010 at 6:40 PM

LOL!!
Excellent!
Getting them all in a decent pose and looking at you is an amazing accomplishment.
Really like the water color, ripples, and comp.
Sandy r

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

Comment posted by Lee fisher on October 2, 2010 at 7:18 PM

Fantastic image, great comp and you've caught the eye of every one. A very special image,
Lee

Registered on September 10, 2010, 13 Posts, 89 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 2, 2010 at 9:03 PM

Magic Mia - great comp and I like the way the birds separate the smoooth from slightly choppy water

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 2, 2010 at 10:11 PM

Very cool Mia! It's great when nature cooperates and all the elements align to provide an opportunity like this, I imagine you had a huge grin on your face when you saw this in the viewfinder. Lovely blues and accurate whites.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 2, 2010 at 10:38 PM

Such a great picture for all the reasons you have mentioned!

PS: Many congratulations on the EP!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on October 2, 2010 at 10:48 PM

Cool image, very well captured !
One more vote for more pano.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on October 3, 2010 at 12:26 AM

Mia,
What a great catch. Looks like a serious meeting of the minds. Great comp on this and the whites are perfect. Was this a cloudy day? I noticed only -1/3 on exposure. Very interesting image Mia. Classic.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 3, 2010 at 1:55 AM

A fascinating image and I like your pano comp here Mia

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

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on October 3, 2010 at 4:19 AM

Very nice. What a great number of pelicans, all of them looking at you.

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Ross on October 3, 2010 at 4:42 AM

Excellent Mia, like the lighting and the different water colour in front of the birds, picking up the reflections.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 3, 2010 at 5:28 AM

Super Cool!!! Awesome photo Mia!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on October 3, 2010 at 7:57 AM

Thats an excellent capture, Mia, great reflections too

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on October 3, 2010 at 8:29 AM

A very unique image, Mia. Outstanding in every respect!!

Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on October 3, 2010 at 8:30 AM

Wow Mia, what a trick! To get all of these guys saying "cheese" at the same time is remarkable. I'll have to think of you now as the "Pelican Whisperer"

Great "class shot"!

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on October 3, 2010 at 9:26 AM

Beautiful composition and great light conditions, Mia. Very well presented as well !!!
Mauro

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on October 3, 2010 at 10:03 AM

Another "How did she do it shot". I too like the changes in the water to go with the obvious impossible catch of attention.

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on October 3, 2010 at 11:53 AM

Nothing to say, but I love it! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on October 3, 2010 at 3:17 PM

Fun shot. Mia! I wish my father were still here to see this. He did his share of class pictures, and team pictures, during my grade school years, and I still have several of them to chuckle at.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on October 3, 2010 at 5:04 PM

Wonderful! What a terrific behavioral shot. Always wanted to get a shot like this of these guys group feeding, but never have had an opportunity as wonderful as this. Beautiful!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 3, 2010 at 7:35 PM

Before the thumbnail was opened, the perfect title had me smiling! Excellent...

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 3, 2010 at 7:45 PM

Wonderful capture with the arc of pelicans and pano crop. The differing ripples of fore and back waters add interest.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 3, 2010 at 8:10 PM

I can't add to the kudos you've already accumulated for this image Mia but I can say they're all well deserved. It is a unique and fascinating image. My only claim to fame here is that I was there when you made the image, but I didn't get the shot. My excuse - I was driving... In reality, I ignored them as I too often do. Excellent!

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Loulou Beavers on October 4, 2010 at 3:20 AM

Cool and unique, but also the lines in the water add to the photo

Registered on June 21, 2008, 73 Posts, 205 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on October 4, 2010 at 5:17 PM

Very nice! Like the position of the pelicans and they all look very sharp as well.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Axel Hildebrandt on October 4, 2010 at 6:22 PM

Great capture of this behavior. I like the composition and the different water texture in fore and background.

Registered on October 16, 2006, 66 Posts, 441 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 5, 2010 at 3:17 PM

I just got back to this now, Mia. Thank you for answering my question.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 5, 2010 at 6:16 PM

Big congrats on the WP Mia. Well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on October 5, 2010 at 7:25 PM

Congrats on the Weekly Pick. I missed this earlier, just a great fun shot. Love the title.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on October 5, 2010 at 7:59 PM

Congrats on the EP. Well done.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 5, 2010 at 8:22 PM

Great EP!
Congrats!!

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 6, 2010 at 8:59 PM

Congrats Mia

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on October 7, 2010 at 12:00 AM

Oh,Mia, this is just a terrific shot! Love pelicans, and this capture their beauty and uniqueness so well. Great light.
I am very curious about how long you waited until they all "cooperated" with the pose. It's so tricky, wait and they fly away, or don't wait and don't get what you really want. You know the dilemma...
Anyway, congrats on the EP.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 7, 2010 at 11:20 AM

My thanks for the congrats on getting an EP on this image.

Catherine, I looked at my files from the day I took this image, I had about 11 minutes with the Pelicans, this image was taken about 8 minutes after they started heading towards us. It was only 2 minutes later until I wasn't able to fit them all into the frame even pulling my zoom back to 200mm. After that I tried to zoom in and just focus on one or a few birds.

The reason Ron D didn't get a shot like this was because he had his 500mm and a 1.4x TC and he could not get them all into a frame.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments