Presidential Pel +REPOST

Gallery: AvianPosted March 18, 201077 views16 comments

Canon 7D, 500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC, monopod.

1/2000, f/8, ISO 400. Full frame.

Taken at Puerto Penasco, Mexico.

Another pelican shot. I like how serious this one looks--almost like he's the president posing to have his picture put on the dollar bill. Some good details in the bird, and I like the other pelican in the bg. I think the difference in poses, with the bird in the bg turned away from the camera, and the subject posing so formally, only emphasizes the "seriousness" of the main subject (rather than detracting)--what do you think?

Comments and critiques appreciated. Please view larger version if possible.

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 18, 2010 at 2:12 AM

Brian, Really nice detail on the front bird, and nice pose. I'm not so sure about the BG one - the dark neck seems to detract, for me.
Sandy r

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on March 18, 2010 at 5:22 AM

Great shot, Brian

I like this portrait very much.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on March 18, 2010 at 9:23 AM

Great pose and detail on the front pelican. The OOF one in the back really detracts for me.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on March 18, 2010 at 10:34 AM

Awesome looking pelican . Easy to say in hindsight, but I'd have tried a shot without the other guy in the BG , but its still a solid shot Brian

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 18, 2010 at 11:34 AM

I really like the expression (if you can call it that), the sharpness and detail and the colors in this shot. Without the BG pelican I think it would be a great, simple and graphic portrait so I guess I have to say thumbs down to the BG pelican.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 18, 2010 at 12:29 PM

sounds like the initial consensus is against the bird in the background. Here is the very next frame in the sequence, where the bg bird had moved. I did a minor clone on the lower left corner and another just above the bird on the right edge.

I much prefer the proud pose on the first version, and also how it shows the green in the pouch, while the second one doesn't. The second is obviously much cleaner.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on March 18, 2010 at 1:12 PM

I like them both Brian but prefer the original post, the bird in the background is sufficiently out of focus enough for me that it doesn't detract from the primary bird, for me it just adds interest & depth to the image.Like you I like the pose of the bird in the original post and the nice details and colors in the bill.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on March 18, 2010 at 1:16 PM

Both images are excellent Brian but I actually like the first one just a little bit more.
May

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 18, 2010 at 4:37 PM

Wonderful detail on the pelican, this bird has so much color and variation to it that (for me) makes a really nice subject. I happen to like the 2nd image better in this post, it just seems to draw you in to look at the pelican more than the first. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 18, 2010 at 5:54 PM

Brian, I like both images for different reasons. The first has more depth and holds my attention because there are two things to look at and inspect. The second image is clean and pure and the details on the bird hold my attention and beg me to look really closely at the one bird. So, it really depends on what your purpose for taking the image was as to which works for you. Great exposure and sharpness on each.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 18, 2010 at 11:05 PM

I could go either way, I like images with oof birds in the bg but this one doesn't really grab me. The detail and lighting on the main subject is excellent here Brian

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 19, 2010 at 12:17 AM

I like the OOF bird in the first post; Pelicans are such social birds I think the second one tells a more complete story. Excellent light and detail, and a great capture of a different pose. That bill has seen some miles, hasn't it?

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 19, 2010 at 10:15 AM

Hi Brian. As others have said, I like both. I'm not sure which grabs me the most. As an alternative, you might try fading the bg bird in the first post a little. The black neck does seem to try to draw my eye away from the main subject.

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on March 19, 2010 at 3:12 PM

Brian:
Great technicals on both. I prefer the original, because of the lines and curves and triangle. And one could argue that the absence of a pelican on the adjacent post in the repost is distracting.

Why isn't there a pelican on the next piling? Both are neat shots.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 19, 2010 at 9:35 PM

Yhe detail is amazing Brian and I don't mind the other bird. It tells the story IMO

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on March 20, 2010 at 4:46 PM

Brian,
another vote for the first version, also if the second is clear and pure.
As Cheryl, the first tells me a story and everyone can give his interpretation of it.
Anyway great shot!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments