Neotropic Cormorant

Gallery: AvianPosted May 18, 2012122 views13 comments

Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ
Date: May 7, 2012 7:39 am
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 400, Aperture priority matrix metered, 1/1000th @ f/5.6
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac, 90% of frame

I’d prefer a less steep shooting angle, but the preferred roost tree is quite tall and there’s only one spot near the base where I can get an open view.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. Please base critiques on the larger version if possible.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on May 18, 2012 at 8:06 PM

Very distinguished pose. Those feet are just plain weird. Great capture.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on May 18, 2012 at 8:29 PM

You may have had a steep shooting angle Rich but you make the best of it with this diagonal comp. Very interesting how the bird has it's feet wrapped around the perch-neat capture.

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

Comment posted by Peter Cross on May 19, 2012 at 12:10 AM

Regardless, I like it. Super detail in the feather patterns particularly on the wings. I don't know of any other bird that has a green eye. Very neat.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 19, 2012 at 12:24 AM

I like the diagonals and the feet in this image which make up for the angle imo.

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

Comment posted by Geoff Powell on May 19, 2012 at 8:42 AM

The shooting angle matches the pose imho. It has a sort of a proud royal dignity to it, and as such the looking up position complements it well. Nice exposure on the blacks.

Registered on March 20, 2012, 21 Posts, 170 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on May 19, 2012 at 3:44 PM

Looks like perfect exposure, and I love the great look at the feet.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 19, 2012 at 4:20 PM

Wonderful detail, Richard, and the good view of those webbed feet gripping a branch makes it worth the somewhat steep angle. It still seems strange to me to see a Cormorant in the middle of a desert.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 20, 2012 at 10:39 AM

These are neat birds Rich. Angle is a bit steep, but you made it look good despite this. Nice exposure.

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

Comment posted by John Robinson on May 20, 2012 at 5:25 PM

Bit big in frame but still agood image.
JR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 20, 2012 at 7:17 PM

Nice, Richard. I like the lines of the bird and perch and the exposure looks perfect. That wonderful blue eye comes through very well in the larger image.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 21, 2012 at 11:01 AM

Really nice detail and exposure Richard. Got to love those feet!

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 21, 2012 at 6:03 PM

Nice & sharp, excellent exposure & colors Rich.
Great shade of blue there, I like the way its grasping that perch too..
The shooting angle works for me fine.

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Levin on May 23, 2012 at 2:21 PM

In retrospect this is quite an amazing view of a cormorant, emerald eye, feet, and everything else! Your image also shows how it can grasp a branch and how well it does it. This is a high contrast image, so not all of the details on the underside can be seen. That's just a limitation of the sensor, not a criticism of this fine image, Richard.

Registered on April 24, 2009, 21 Posts, 184 Comments