Neotropic Cormorant

Gallery: AvianPosted July 3, 201285 views6 comments

Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ
Date: March 23, 2012 8:00 am
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 400, Aperture priority matrix metered, 1/500th @ f/10
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac, 77% of frame

With only 2.5 months to go until it cools off for photography I’m playing catch-up on my backlog.

The cormorants at the Water Ranch dry their wings just as they do elsewhere, but rarely where I can get a decent angle on them. I’m not thrilled by the light and colors in this but I like the pose.

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

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on July 3, 2012 at 2:06 AM

A very nice angle, showing the wings to good effect. Not the most attractive perch, but it's what Neotropics use.

You need to emulate the birds around you and migrate north in the summer once in a while...

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

Comment posted by Rick Turner on July 3, 2012 at 9:06 AM

The pose and eye contact are sweet. Light conditions not so but feather detail on belly very well done.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 3, 2012 at 9:48 AM

Nice techs as usual Richard. I really like the decision for the center comp here. It really works since you have the symmetry in the wings.

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

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on July 3, 2012 at 2:15 PM

Cool perch and a good look at the webbed feet. Very good techs in what seems bright light. I wonder how this would have looked as a vertical comp, maybe with the reflection. I would also try to reduce the brightness in the background a bit and make the cormorant pop.

Nice capture of the behavior. Good to see this subspecies - we only get the double crested variety here.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 3, 2012 at 8:27 PM

Love the pose, nice head turn also. The detail in the larger version is excellent.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 1, 2012 at 7:38 AM

I like the comp slightly off center left, it suits the bird & pose.
Techs looks good, the light is what it is.
I've never been one to shy away from adverse conditions in order to get the shot.

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