The Greeting Committee of One!

Emperor Penguin/the first head portrait!

This image was created on Day 1 — October 24, 2018 — of the recently concluded Emperor Penguins of Snow Hill Island expedition via icebreaker. While seated on the snow and ice, I used the hand held Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens (at 400mm) with my back-up Nikon D850. ISO 800. Matrix metering plus about 1 stop: 1/800 sec. at f/8 in Manual mode. Auto 1 WB on a cloudy-bright morning. One AF point up from the center AF point/Single/Shutter button AF as originally framed was active at the moment of exposure. I kept my 80-400 rig on my shoulder via an RS-7 Curve Breathe Strap so that it was instantly accessible when I was working with the tripod-mounted 500 PF.
Focus peaking AF Fine-tune: +5. See the Nikon AF Fine-tune e-Guide here.

To learn about my first up-close encounter with an Emperor Penguin or to see what I had to say about the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens check out the blog post here.

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments are welcome and appreciated.

with love, artie

Gobstopped... I'll let the pros find the nits.

Very nice. Love the high key treatment here. I take it that was probably the only option with all the snow. Great detail on the penguin. Perfect head angle and pose. Can't wait to see some more.

Details and pose look great. This is a classic Morris portrait. Had I not known you were there and saw this pic I would have guessed that you made it. That eye is super cool looking. Being super picky, could you have stepped a touch to your left to get the head angled towards you a few degrees?

Never have seen a Emperor Penguin, except maybe in a zoo but certainly not this intimate and close, I can really appreciate this image. The details are fantastic, the colors marvelous. I think one of your best. I disagree with Isaac in that I think the perfectly parallel perspective with perfectly even light to highlight the details. Thank you for sharing, Artie.

Thanks Joe, Actually, I will -- as self-appointed El Capitan of the Head Angle Police (cabeza ángulo policia) -- disagree with both you and Isaac here but just by a small degree if you will excuse the pun. The bird's head is turned about 1 degree toward me. With really tight head portraits a small head turn like this will maximize depth-of-field on the bill by placing the bill tip on the same plane as the eye. Any more or less and the bill tip might not be sharp.

with love to you both, artie

Pretty spectacular headshot and great look at the eye. Nice details and the splash of color on the neck works really well with the high key. TFS

Artie, Kudos for this gorgeous portrait. first, what an amazing adventure you must of had and certainly a rigorous effort with extreme cold, so I applaud you "doubly!" I have been staring at this and appreciate the detail captured, the pattern of feathers, the slightest yellows at the base of the black chin, and the colors on the bill. IQ is tops, and what a beautiful capture.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Arthur Morris

Thanks Joe, Actually, I will -- as self-appointed El Capitan of the Head Angle Police (cabeza ángulo policia) -- disagree with both you and Isaac here but just by a small degree if you will excuse the pun. The bird's head is turned about 1 degree toward me. With really tight head portraits a small head turn like this will maximize depth-of-field on the bill by placing the bill tip on the same plane as the eye. Any more or less and the bill tip might not be sharp.

with love to you both, artie

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I'm impressed, in english and spanish. Your explanation is filed away to be used as opportunity arises. Thanks Artie.

Makes perfect sense. Thanks for the reminder re depth of field

I never noticed the purple/blue subtle colouring on the bill - how cool is that! Exceptional details. If anything I do wish the chest's contour was not so against the BG (difficult to avoid I suppose with nothing but white snow BG), but boy oh boy what a fun image to study.

Thanks Dan, There are actually two variations on the color on the bills. I am not sure if it is sexual dimorphism.

with love, artie