In close

Gallery: AvianPosted January 30, 201136 views12 comments

Had a little time this weekend to take some shots of some Pelicans and Cormorants. This gal came in very close and personal. The crop was just a little off the top. I tried to sharpen the beak a little extra and was only a bit succesfull.

C&C always welcome!
Dan

Nikon D300s
1/1000
F-8 -1.0
Sigma 150-500 @150
ISO 200
HH
CW

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 30, 2011 at 7:49 PM

An interesting perspective on a pelican in flight Dan. I think you did about all you could to get the bill sharp this close with it at that angle. I think I'd work on eliminating the halo. The background seems a little splotchy - perhaps that's natural?

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 30, 2011 at 7:51 PM

Wow! He was close! I do see the bit of a halo and the splotches in the bg, but your sharpness looks pretty good. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 30, 2011 at 11:47 PM

Very unusual comp, and with the pelican's bill the comp really works. The sharpness looks good to me, too.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on January 31, 2011 at 5:12 AM

I'm liking your comp on this, Dan. Great eye contact too.

Andy...

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 31, 2011 at 5:42 AM

Wonderful comp Dan - love the eye contact; it really draws you in.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 31, 2011 at 7:21 AM

Dan,

Love the unusual crop and comp, especially how the leading edge of the wings goes diagonal from corner to corner. Very nice details & sharpness. I do see a thin halo, that would be easy to correct and there is some blotchiness in the upper right corner area, I would try to reduce that.

Is there a way you determined that this bird was a female? None of my reference books mention any difference between the genders except that the males may be slightly larger than the female and this looks to be a first year bird.

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on January 31, 2011 at 8:15 AM

Mia,
Thank you for the input. I will work on the halo and blotches.
The only reason I went with female was size. There were many Pelicans at this spot and most were pretty much the same size. I have never noticed a big difference but this one was smaller. It did not seem unhealthy but enough smaller to notice. Without knowing for sure I should have refrained.

Dan

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 31, 2011 at 8:34 AM

nice comp and great eye contact, Dan. minor nits are noted, but this is a cool view of a pelican. I like the strong diagonal with the wings and how the line of the head follows the same angle.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 31, 2011 at 8:43 AM

Thanks for your reply about my question on gender Dan, I've never been comfortable with identifying the sex of Brown Pelicans.

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 31, 2011 at 9:46 AM

Very nice portrait, Dan ! Impressive composition with the wings crossing the frame !
Mauro

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on January 31, 2011 at 11:07 AM

Dan,
I love pelicans and I'd like to see them here in Italy. I really like your comp that shows the detail under the wings and in the breast so well. Great eye contact too.

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

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on January 31, 2011 at 11:53 PM

Very nice feather detail and I like the looking down view from the bird.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments