Gentoo with Chick

Gallery: AvianPosted February 25, 2011652 views29 comments

Olympus E-3, 300mm, tripod
f8, 1/320, ISO200, -1ev

I think I posted this before but I have significantly re-worked it in CS5. This Gentoo Penguin was at a small colony about 1.25 miles from tidewater at Stromness, South Georgia Island. It took bout half an hour for her to relax enough to allow the chick out this far.

I'm not the best judge of my own work, but I think this might be one of the best photos from the trip.

Full frame. Selective adjustment of Levels and selective Sharpening.

C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

29 comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 25, 2011 at 12:40 AM

This is really nice, Jim. The exposure is spot on throughout, and the pose is just perfect from both subjects. I can see why you like this one.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 25, 2011 at 12:41 AM

What a wonderful, intimate portrait! That chick and his position reaching toward mom is just ...beautiful.
From here, seems a bit over-sharpened. Other than that, a simply exquisite image.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on February 25, 2011 at 1:07 AM

Jim, I LOVE the look coming from the chick on this one! He/she looks so at home with mom and seems to be giving a look that says, "I am so comfortable and love you so much mom. 10+ on the cuteness scale. The processing looks fine to me and on my screen it does not look over sharpened.

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

Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on February 25, 2011 at 3:20 AM

So great. I love chick's posture.

Registered on July 23, 2005, 111 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 25, 2011 at 6:31 AM

A very intimate shot and glimpse into the gentoo penguins world. All the technicals look great also. Well done.

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 25, 2011 at 9:46 AM

Jim: This is just such a great story. Your composition is top notch for me. Enough of the environment to understand the situation, great background that allows me to stay on your subject. I think your processing looks just fine. Very nice image

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on February 25, 2011 at 9:48 AM

Lovely and touching shot, Jim. No nits.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Huff on February 25, 2011 at 11:31 AM

Wow, what a great shot. Love the look on the young ones face. Great job Jim.

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 25, 2011 at 2:00 PM

A image that really tells a story with the look of the chick and mom watching over. Good composition and the detail looks good on the larger image. The right side of the white patch on the head looks a little aqua green on my work monitor but it is not color calibrated so I am not sure about that. Wonderful full frame image, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 25, 2011 at 5:16 PM

Extra-ordinary photo Jim

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 25, 2011 at 6:09 PM

A wonderful interaction shot Jim

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 25, 2011 at 6:17 PM

Love the intimacy here Jim - the look on the face of the chick is priceless. I see no issues with the image, only positives. Excellent.

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

Comment posted by wade pettitt on February 25, 2011 at 8:20 PM

Nice comp, and I love the chick poking out from underneath the parent.

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 25, 2011 at 8:25 PM

Jim,

I looked at this earlier today when I didn't have time to comment and I felt the image was very endearing because of the interaction between the adult and chick. I'm glad you waited for this shot. Love the composition & visible details plus the view of the chick's eye.

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on February 26, 2011 at 3:21 AM

Hi Jim.
Looks really good from where i'm sitting,like it a lot!

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on February 26, 2011 at 7:57 AM

Excellent details and POV of this touching moment Jim, this one has that something special..Very special.
Well done

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

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on February 27, 2011 at 10:53 AM

I like this one. I like the tenderness feeling that came out. It doesn't look over-sharpened in my monitor, but I got the whiter part of the mum body slightly going to magenta. (my eyes? my monitor? both?) .

Cheers, Luca

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on February 27, 2011 at 12:09 PM

Hi Jim

You certainly captured the intimacy and emotion of this wonderfully moving scene

Albert Darmo. Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on March 2, 2011 at 1:25 PM

Hey Jim, Big congrats on the Weekly Pick! I love this shot and it's certainly a worthy pick!

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

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on March 2, 2011 at 2:51 PM

Such a sweet image.Love the look the little one is giving.

A spot on choice the the EP

Congrats

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 2, 2011 at 3:51 PM

Congrats - a most delightful image.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 2, 2011 at 5:51 PM

Congrats on the exceptional EP!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by May Haga on March 3, 2011 at 8:51 AM

Jim, I am so pleased to see that this was awarded an EP. I have looked at it several times but been too lazy to comment. Forty below puts one into hibernation. I love the look of tenderness on the part of the mother. The chick lreaching for the mother is totally endearing.
May

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 3, 2011 at 12:26 PM

Congrats on the EP Jim!!! Very well deserved

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 3, 2011 at 12:28 PM

Congrats Jim!

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

Comment posted by Andrei Malashenko on March 25, 2011 at 10:29 PM

Wonderful moment ! Congratulations to you.

Registered on March 18, 2011, 13 Posts, 68 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on March 26, 2011 at 12:42 AM

Really a touching image. You had quite the trip down there.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 31, 2011 at 11:39 PM

Not sure how I missed this, Jim! Well deserved EP!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Debbie Yarra on January 19, 2012 at 12:47 AM

AWWWW! I have been looking at your photos in your gallery and this is the best photo! Perfect!

Registered on January 1, 2012, 5 Posts, 91 Comments