White Breasted Cormorant

I feel slightly intimidated posting my image with all these fine images below me. I was standing alongside the Milnerton Lagoon in Cape Town looking out for passing flight shots, when this White Breasted Cormorant surfaced close by. He was so close that I had to change my lens to minimum focussing distance. These guys surface for a split second, and then dive down looking for their next meal. When they surface, its normally a fair distance from where they dived. I was lucky that I had seen this guy swimming towards me, so when he dived away from me, this is where he surfaced. Cape Town is not known for many windless days, so having a near clear reflection was a bonus due to the water being dead calm. Taken early morning.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300mm F/2.8 +2X TC = 600mm
1/1250
F/7.1
ISO 640

Hand Held

Stu:

I like this one a lot. Perfect shooting angle to get a nice reflection, still,blue water, well exposed, good eye.

Good anticipation to grab this one when he popped up.

Cheers

Randy

The cormorant looks great and I love the details, reflecion and the green eye but the beautifully smooth water makes this one stand out IMO. Very nice Stu

even the feathers under water show good detail,very nicely done

The water is beautiful and you have a terrific reflection as well.
The water ripples remind me of wind vortexes that I sometimes see over plane wings.
IQ is excellent and good POV.
Beautiful light as well.
No need to be intimidated with this fine image!
Gail

I love it! The neck submerging under the water is a terrific touch. Good details and perfect water, especially the lines.

Now that's a 'belter' of an image Stu, love the colour palette and the blue of the water, makes for a perfect backdrop to the warm colours of the subject.

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I was lucky that I had seen this guy swimming towards me,

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How true Stu, looks like folk may be drinking this guys habitat if the water shortage continues in CT.

TFS
Steve

Thanks for the honest feedback everyone. Always appreciated.

I love the calm water and the great reflection. I am torn about the crop. I would prefer more room above and less below. But then your bird would be lower in the frame. That is a bit of a problem on shots like this were you stay higher to include the reflection. Do you have more room on the right? Feels a little cramped.

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Originally Posted by Isaac Grant

Do you have more room on the right? Feels a little cramped.

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Thanks a stack Isaac. Do you mean more room infront of the Cormorant - then that would be on the left. :w3 The crop is as shot in camera. I would have to add canvas to the left.

No I mean on the right Stu. The edge of the birds tail is almost touching the edge of the frame and I find the messed water on one side and the perfect reflection on the other a nice balance. Wish we could see more of what as going on on the right.

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Originally Posted by Isaac Grant

No I mean on the right Stu. The edge of the birds tail is almost touching the edge of the frame and I find the messed water on one side and the perfect reflection on the other a nice balance. Wish we could see more of what as going on on the right.

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My Apologies Isaac.:e3 Unfortunately, as mentioned, no more space either side. I also didnt have time to play around. I think he dived the moment I pressed the shutter. In all this, I still had to compose to ensure I was covering the reflection. As you know, sometimes nature doesnt wait around. :w3

No need to apologize. I certainly could have been more descriptive as well :S3:. And yes, that about sums up nature photography perfectly,

Well done Stu! This is wonderful. Don't feel intimidated mate. Your work rocks!