Breakfast

Gallery: AvianPosted December 11, 201189 views5 comments

I took this image from the bridge at Bolsa Chica Eco Reserve, CA. I only had my 500mm with me when the Brown Pelicans began diving next to the pier. So I backed off from the other photographers and tried to obtain images of the Pelicans surfacing and straining their catch. This pelican dove in my direction and landed a bit close and I could not get the entire head and neck in frame. But I like the image anyway. I especially like the grain of the pelican's bill and the small fish.

Canon 7D with 500mm
Tripod
1/1600 at f / 5.6
ISO 320

Comments and critiques are appreciated

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on December 11, 2011 at 8:15 AM

I like the behavior shown, but would prefer the rest of the neck to be showing in a portrait like this. Nice detail and color. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 11, 2011 at 8:46 AM

interesting image, Skip. I really like the curving lines from bill to head to neck to wing, and the view of the bill is really nice. I think pelicans lend themselves to unusual crops, and although I'd prefer to have the top of the neck, overall this works for me. The one thing I'd wish for would be a little more light on the eye. Was the focus point maybe on the neck/shoulder--the head seems slightly less sharp.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 11, 2011 at 8:54 AM

Skip, I like this shot. Just a bit more forward in the frame to fit in the neck would have been nice, but not an image killer IMO. Very nice detail and I like the feeding action.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 11, 2011 at 11:14 AM

The lines and detail make this an interesting image. I agree about the issues - the missing neck, the light on the eye - but they don't diminish the interest of the image for me.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 13, 2011 at 8:59 PM

There are some imperfections but the intimate look at the behavior has a lot of appeal for me. Excellent detail and interesting perspective.

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