Cormorant Defensive Display

[Mike Landwehr]

This double-crested cormorant was defending it's perch from the approach of another cormorant last month on Ft. Myers Beach. I removed some preening feathers from the beak, lightened the eye slightly, worked quite a bit on cleaning up the piling, and applied NIK Color Effex Tonal Contrast at 25% and Detail Enhancer at 33%. Slight crop. All C & C appreciated.

1D Mark-IV
500 mm/f4
ISO 200
1/2500 @ f/5.0
Tripod

[Raymond Lee]

Fantastic details! Great HA and nice eye. Not sure what's outside of the cropped area, but I could see a version with a looser crop with more room on the left and bottom.

[Ron E Racine]

Very nice sharpness and details Mike. Love the pose as well. I was thinking the same as Raymond on the crop suggestion, not much just a little more.

[Rob Melone]

Mike, it's a great moment captured very well. Love the feather detail, clarity and color. That tail-up is a bonus!

[Marina Scarr]

Fun pose you captured here. It's quirky with open beak, raised wings and esp the raised tail.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the sharpness, awkward pose and blue eye. I agree with Raymond's composition suggestion. Nice image Mike.