Lift Off

Gallery: AvianPosted May 1, 201382 views4 comments

American White Pelicans have been hanging around the river in our town for the last couple of weeks, and from the yellowish hue on their breast feathers, together with the orange/yellow circle around their eyes, and the prominent bill plates, they look like they’re ready for mating season to begin.

For most of the first two weeks they were squatting on a gravel bar on the far side of the river, which is on private land. But for the last couple of days they’ve moved a little closer to the middle of the river and are now within decent camera range. I took this shot just as this pelican was taking off for points unknown.

Critique, comments and suggestions welcome.

Tech stuff: Canon 1D4, EF 500mm f4L IS USM, 1.4x TC, f/13, 1/1000 ISO 250. Manual, spot metering.

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Claude Dagenais on May 2, 2013 at 6:33 AM

Very nice work Rick especially in balancing the SS and DOF on this large bird. I like these take-off captures for they show power and agility on the part of the bird. Excellent capture.

Registered on April 10, 2013, 56 Posts, 571 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 2, 2013 at 8:34 AM

I love the wing position on this one and the splash of water behind it. I'm not too fond of the shore line in the bg bisecting the bird. In this case, I find myself wishing you actually had a bit higher angle to put all water in the bg. Excellent job on the exposure and a very crisp image.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 2, 2013 at 11:00 AM

Good timing to get the take off with the water splash. The background shoreline going through the middle of the pelican is a little distracting. I think this could work with more of a pano type crop to minimize the OOF water. Nice job of dealing with the whites in bright light.

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on May 23, 2013 at 4:07 PM

Hello Rick

Never seen these guys yet. Like the Sharpness of its Body. Wing Tips forward & extended form a nice diagonal back to that interesting Head!!

Water droplets at Take off add too.

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments