Gentoo on Eggs w/ Repost

Gallery: AvianPosted March 3, 2011107 views10 comments

Olympus E-3, 300mm, laying on ground
f6.3, 1/640, ISO100, -1ev

There's a small Gentoo Penguin colony about 1.25 miles upstream from the abandoned Stromness whaling station on South Georgia Island. On a bright, warm day this lady looked so peaceful and relaxed I couldn't resist taking her photo.

Taken from about 7 meters away. Dropped -1.0 ev to try to cope with the glare from the whites. Full frame. The centered composition is intentional. Usual sharpening drill.

C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on March 3, 2011 at 8:07 PM

I think the center comp worked well here The whites are good. Nicely done

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 3, 2011 at 9:10 PM

I like the centered composition here Jim but to my eye it works even better by taking some of the empty space off the top and making it more of a pano.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 3, 2011 at 9:17 PM

Jim, I'd try the pano crop also as suggested by Nate. Otherwise, full marks!

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on March 3, 2011 at 9:50 PM

This penguin sure looks strange from this angle, Jim. A real attention-getting shot! The idea of centering horizontally works. Lowering the ceiling somewhat as Nate suggests would focus more of our attention on the bird and I think is a good idea. You could consider trying to drag a bit more detail from the shadow on the bird too. Unique shot!

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 4, 2011 at 10:19 AM

Very interesting image and I can see why you could not resist taking this image, it tells a story to me. The exposure looks good for a bright day and I also like the crop suggestions by others, way to go, very pleasing image.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 4, 2011 at 12:09 PM

Following your suggestions, I have cropped the shot to a "semi-pano." Please let me know what you think.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 4, 2011 at 10:58 PM

I like the repost better Jim but I would leave a little more room above him than you did in the repost.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on March 5, 2011 at 1:37 PM

Jim,
That is one contented looking penguin. Much prefer the repost. A unique and different perspective that you've captured here Jim. I really like this image a lot. Congrats

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on March 5, 2011 at 8:46 PM

I prefer the repost, Jim: the bird deservedly occupies so much more of the frame.

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on March 7, 2011 at 4:26 AM

I like the repost because the bird is more prominent. I'd leave a little more room on the top, but not a lot.

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