Three Kings

Gallery: AvianPosted September 17, 2011147 views14 comments

Olympus E-3, 300mm f.28, hand-held from Zodiac raft
f5.6, 1/250, ISO250

Elsehul, South Georgia Island, November 2010. King Penguins are impossibly photogenic, both in appearance and in their behaviors. I'm not entirely happy with this exposure, but conditions forced me to focus on shutter speed.

About 90% of full frame. Slight adjustments to exposure. Usual sharpening drill.

C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 17, 2011 at 7:33 PM

Knew this was yours..
Love the "lineup" with 2 pointing one way and the third the opposite way.
Anything to bring out the eyes more? Very tough with black heads.
Another great king shot!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on September 17, 2011 at 7:43 PM

Really nice image Jim... I love how the first two are in the same pose, with that head turn of the last penguin. Great stuff!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on September 17, 2011 at 11:53 PM

What a marvelous picture Jim, a real smile inducer :^)

As Sandy suggests, I too would see if more light could be lifted from the eyes. I'd use the Burn tool, although there may be a better way of going about this. Nevertheless, a beautiful image!

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on September 18, 2011 at 10:40 AM

The poses of the three penguins is just terrific Jim. Shooting from a zodiac must be difficult, but it looks like you did a great job with the sharpness. These birds always make me smile

- guess that's from watching Happy Feet!

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on September 18, 2011 at 2:52 PM

Neat image Jim. Love the title.
May

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on September 18, 2011 at 5:49 PM

Excellent shot, like that they are lined up in single file.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on September 18, 2011 at 6:36 PM

That is sweet. Amazing how you caught them with a three faces so clear. The faces are a bit dark but it doesn't detract from the image at all IMO.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 18, 2011 at 6:41 PM

Certainly tough to go to much lower shutter speed with those conditions, Jim and the detail looks good. Cool poses.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on September 18, 2011 at 7:26 PM

Nice composition - a fun image.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on September 19, 2011 at 10:24 AM

Hi Jim, I like the image a lot, most of this coming from the line-up of the subjects. The eyes are always difficult with King Penguins, so I would try the suggestions offered about the eyes. Besides that a very pleasant image to look at ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on September 19, 2011 at 9:02 PM

Super fun image, Jim. I really like the opposing head turn of the back penguin. Very nice job with the exposure.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 19, 2011 at 11:28 PM

Jim, I really like the comp on this. Just curious, was there a reason you didn't increase the ISO? That could have made a very large difference in your SS and bring out the details i the blacks better.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on September 20, 2011 at 1:00 AM

This is just too cool. That's all I'll say...

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on September 20, 2011 at 6:44 PM

Very entertaining, I really like the color patterns from the head (black, yellow, gray then a fading yellow to white) that make them quite a contrast type shot. Excellent line up and pose, nice job in getting this from a zodiac. That must of been a great trip, way to go.

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