It's been a while since I last posted here - need to get back into the habit.
I took a 'pelagic tour' out of Kaikoura with various Albatross and Petrels being brought into range with chum. When the chum was all gone, this Giant Petrel sat around looking grumpy. The Giant Petrels are albatross-sized and relatively common off the coast of New Zealand. They're mean and aggressive and the beak is a dangerous weapon. The captain said he had been involved in catching and ringing these birds a few years back - the resulting bites and scratches he got required heavy antibiotics. The shot was taken hanging off the back of the boat with the wide-angle lens.
Canon EOS 1DX, EF 16-35mm II @35mm
1/1600 sec at f/7.1, ISO2000
Post processing in DPP and Photoshop CC - made horizontal from vertical, flattened curved horizon, curves adjustment, touch of Vibrance and Saturation.
Comments and suggestions appreciated.
Gerald
05-16-2019, 07:55 AM
David Roach
This beauty does look mean. The water level close look is amazing and the juxtaposition works well. The curious expression is priceless. The mountainous shoreline and cloudy sky really add to the canvas. Congrats. TFS
05-16-2019, 08:17 AM
Arthur Morris
Good to see you back here. Ditto all of David's positives. I would love to see the same image with the foreground bird more to our right ...
with love, artie
05-16-2019, 09:30 AM
dankearl
I would take some off the right side, but outstanding close-up of this bird.
05-16-2019, 12:25 PM
Moe Richard
Excellent point of view. Although you mentioned you were in a boat, it looks like you were in the water.
05-16-2019, 06:07 PM
John Mack
Nice to see a close up wide angle of this bird. Like the over all setting with the clouds and mountains in the background. Agree with the bird being more to the right.
05-17-2019, 07:30 AM
Gerald Kelberg
Many thanks all for your comments. Agreed, some off the right side would make for a better composition.
There wasn't much chance of getting the bird to move and I didn't want to move it with Photoshop!
05-17-2019, 11:17 AM
Daniel Cadieux
That is a great look at the "tube-nose" bill these guys have! I too agree with the comp suggestion, but all else looks A-1!!
05-17-2019, 08:56 PM
greg cowle
Love wide-angle wildlife, this is very nice, agree with the cropping suggestions.
05-18-2019, 07:45 PM
Bill Dix
Wonderful up close and personal of this guy, with great background to put it in context. Ditto the comments above.