Morning Preen

[Ian Cassell]

There is a flock of white pelicans that has shown up here in Arizona for the holidays.

Canon 7D
Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L

CS6
Nik Color Efex Pro
Nik Dfine 2.0

[Nancy Phillips]

I like this! The bill glows in the morning light, the position emphasizes the ...awkwardness... of trying to preen with such a long bill, and the upper edge of the bird is in black and makes the bird pop out. I would probably crop some of the left side.

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks, Nancy. I'm not sure about the crop. I liked him looking in the direction of the negative space on the left, but maybe I left too much.

[Colin Gilyeat]

Ian, nice light on the pelican. I'm not sure if I see a need to crop any more from the left. I like the fact that there is room that direction to look into.

[Kerry Perkins]

Nice Ian. And thank you for your contributions to the forum. I think that images like this, with so many vertical elements, look better as verticals. Since there is no movement to the left, I see no reason to leave space there. Do you need a slight CCW rotation?

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks again for commenting, folks. I can see both sides here. I tried it vertical and I like that too. I may print it both ways and mull it over. Yes, Kerry, I think it needs a fraction of a degree CCW.

As for participation, I keep trying. I think the ETL forum participation has really slowed in recent months - especially critiques - and, with some crazy time constraints on my end, I keep trying to do my bit to keep it moving.

[John Chardine]

Stunning light and great water Ian. Love the pose. I agree maybe a little off the left is in order as there's not much happening there.

[Kerry Perkins]

Ian, thanks again for your postings, both images and comments. They are appreciated. I'm expecting things to be slow for the winter months, but I'm hoping for more action in the spring.

[Alan Lillich]

Nice light and pose. Even though I know Pelicans have short legs, it feels to me like the virtual feet are really close to the bottom. (I know they aren't, this is an impression.) The reflection is graphic enough that I'm wondering if Kerry's comments about a vertical crop would work with more of the reflection. In this crop I don't mind the empty space on the left, it tells me the bird is alone in the early morning.

[Faraaz Abdool]

Lovely photo, I like the negative space for the bird to look into. A vertical crop may be too cramped. This version is relaxed and pleasing.

Suggestion - a lower angle may have made the bird pop out some more, but at the same time I'm enjoying the textures of the water.

[Wendy Kates]

I love the morning light here, and the placement of the pelican's bill almost makes it look like it's smiling! I didn't notice the negative space initially: not sure if that is because I wasn't paying close attention or because it wasn't a problem for me. :)