Flying Nowhere Soon

Gallery: AvianPosted November 16, 2012230 views4 comments

These strange creatures use their near-vestigial wings to balance as they hop up and down over the lava rocks. They are comical in their ungainliness on land, but elegant to see swimming in the water. There are only 1500 or so individuals alive today... making Flightless Cormorants one of the world's rarest birds.

As usual for the Galapagos, the lighting conditions were less than ideal. You're on the equator, and the guides take you out on island visits during the day (missing the early morning and evening hours entirely). So shooting is done in the harshest of light.

Flightless Cormorant
Phalacrocorax harrisi
January 2012
Fernandina Island, The Galapagos
Canon 7D + 300mm f4L + 1.4TC
f 5.6
1/2000 s.
ISO 500

As always, your C&C is much appreciated, as it helps me to continue to learn.

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on November 17, 2012 at 8:31 AM

Great pose you caught here Rebecka, I like the comp too

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on November 17, 2012 at 2:54 PM

Aw...it looks like he wants to fly so badly! Neat shot of a cool bird. Think you did well with harsh light.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 18, 2012 at 6:29 PM

Rebecka, I like the pose with those stubby wings and the diving position. I also think your composition works well. Doesn't sound like you had any choice but to deal with the harsh light. Neat bird.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on November 19, 2012 at 1:53 AM

Cool capture, Rebecka. There are photography-oriented trips to the Galapagos where the guides are a bit more mindful of the light. Of course, at the equator the good light is pretty brief...

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