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Brown Pelican
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Brown Pelican

by Richard Ditch

Gallery: AvianPosted July 22, 2012121 views6 comments
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Place: Tempe Town Lake, AZ
Date: March 3, 2012 3:17 pm
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E III (2x), Gitzo 1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 800, aperture priority matrix metered, 1/2500th @ f8
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac, 46% of frame

I don’t get many chances to photograph pelicans here in the desert of central AZ. This bird spent a couple weeks at the bizarre artificial lake in the dry bed of the Salt River. I made a few visits trying to get good photos of a vagrant Red-necked Grebe (which stayed too far out). More commentary and a companion image on my blog.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Randy Bacon on July 22, 2012 at 6:41 PM
It wasn't too long ago that you had a hard time seeing a pelican along the Gulf Coast, let alone Arizona - quite a recovery story. This is a nice shot, it has a graphic feel to it that I like - well done and congratulations.
Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 22, 2012 at 8:41 PM
Good light, DOF, & details. I like POV & wings down flight pose as well Rich.
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 22, 2012 at 8:46 PM
These are beautiful and powerful birds in flight. You have caught the flight posture quite well and in decent detail.
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 22, 2012 at 11:29 PM
Nice flight shot, Richard. I like the wing position and the eye is nice and clear.

:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 23, 2012 at 8:21 AM
Congratulations on getting a chance on this bird Richard. We don't see Brown Pelicans in Colorado at all, just Whites here. Looks like the light wasn't in your favor on the angle you had here, but you did a really great job to pull out the details you show here, both with the camera techs and processing work. Good work!
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 23, 2012 at 8:30 PM
Very nice Richard. Excellent detail, you caught him in wonderful light.

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