Lazy Pelican

Gallery: AvianPosted March 17, 2014366 views11 comments

Nikon D4
600mm
1/2500
Manual Mode
F/5.0
ISO 400
Metering Center Weighted Avg
White Balance Auto
Tripod w/Wimberly head
Taken January 20, 2013
Location San Diego

This image was taken just before the peak of the breeding colors came in when I was in San Diego trying to get the infamous pelican yawn (Head throw up in the air with beak wide open). I was going through my files and came across this image which I didn't see as much of a shot since it was much smaller in the frame than you are seeing here. Cropped very significantly. The pose and angles sort of caught my eye along with those blue eyes and the blue ocean background. I've played around with the crop quite a bit and not sure if this is as good as I can get it but I kind of like it. Let me know if you think there is a better crop cause I'm not married to this one just yet. Thanks for looking.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on March 18, 2014 at 4:27 AM

David ..this is a beautifully crafted image. I feel the image is unique ..and the diagonal out of focus area adds a lot to the image. The colors on the bird and the bg is fantastic ..

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 18, 2014 at 6:48 AM

Lovely shot David , the detail and lines really work IMO

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 18, 2014 at 7:29 AM

The colors here are spectacular. Interesting composition. Really like it.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 18, 2014 at 10:18 AM

Techs look excellent David, sharp details.
I really like that contrasting blue BG, nice comp too..
Well done!

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

Comment posted by Ronald Murphy on March 18, 2014 at 12:52 PM

The reds and yellows and nicely contrasted with the blue background. Very attractive.

Registered on March 13, 2012, 279 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 18, 2014 at 1:32 PM

David, the techs are solid and the comp looks fine to me. The only thing I might try is to see how it would look if you darkened the cliff shelf (and guano) some.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 18, 2014 at 1:56 PM

I like the colors of the pelican and the beautiful blue water. The image quality seems very good for a significant crop. The only drawback would be the white bird droppings (if that is what it is) but nothing you could do about that.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 18, 2014 at 3:13 PM

A simple and beautiful portrait David

Excellent details.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 19, 2014 at 9:25 PM

I like the pelican and the water colors a lot here David, I'm not big on the oof shelf to the left, but that's personal preference, lovely detail.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 20, 2014 at 12:23 PM

Excellent composition, David. I really like the lines of this. The crop works for me. If anything, maybe just a tad more on the right. If you had an another frame that accidentally had that foreground in focus, I'd be sorely tempted to do a composite of the two.

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

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on March 21, 2014 at 12:42 AM

I love this pose. He reminds me of a big ole bullfrog just siting on the bank

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments