Brown Pelican preening at Ding Darling

[Dennis Zaebst]

This was taken last March at Ding Darling at about 10:15 am. It's about a 50% crop to eliminate too much sandbar in the FG and water in the BG.

I hesitated in posting this one for several reasons, but I liked it because it was a colorful individual. I tried both vertical and horizontal crops. But the horizontal seems to present more of the fine detail of the feathers.

Canon 7D, ISO 400
500 mm f/4L IS + EF 1.4x TC II
1/1600 sec. @ f/8.0
AV, Evaluative metering @ 0 EV

C/C always appreciated.

[Nick Palmieri]

Looks good. I like the head turn and preening pose. Nice low angle and nice BG.

[Dennis Zaebst]

Thank you Nick.

[bhavya joshi]

Beautiful Pelican here.. love the details thanks for sharing,,

[PhilCook]

Sharp as can be Dennis, wonderful light on the head, great simplicity in composition, nice amount of foreground and blue water looks nice...but I find myself wishing for a little more room on the right to get away from the more squarish crop...and if not opposed to fiddling a bit more then to remove the object beneath it's tail would make it even nicer...good job Dennis

[gail bisson]

Hi Dennis,
I like the preening pose. Always a big fan of the big feet.
I think I see a hint of a yellow cast in the image.( can see it on the pouch and sand bar)
I would like a bit more room on the left as well.
Gail

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent preening pose,captured, Dennis. Love the beautiful breeding plumage.

[christopher galeski]

very nice preening pose,sharp,good detail,agree on more room on the right.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I like the preening pose and the numerous little wavelets in the BG. I'd prefer 3:2 crop with room room added at right, but if you prefer the squarish crop then perhaps placing the subject a tad closer to the left.

[Dennis Zaebst]

Thanks to everyone for your spot on suggestions.

I did some more fiddling with the photo: 1) recropped to 2x3 as suggested (I had previously cropped to 11x14 for a print and then forgot about it), 2) adjusted the temp slider toward blue -10; and 3) removed the bit of kelp/seaweed beneath the tail in PS CS6 (never even noticed that until Phil mentioned it!).

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Dennis, a lookback preening pose always works, and I too like the detail and colours on this fellow. Comp wise, I would have moved him more to the left, and added to the right.

[PhilCook]

Hi Dennis, a lookback preening pose always works, and I too like the detail and colours on this fellow. Comp wise, I would have moved him more to the left, and added to the right.

repost has improved, but now agree with Stuart as well

[Dennis Zaebst]

Phil and Stuart: I re-cropped, but if I keep the 2x3/4x6 aspect ratio, this is the best I can do at moving the pelican left of center. IMO it makes the top and bottom a bit tight. Alternatively, I could go back to the 11x14 aspect, which would make it easier to place the pelican at left, but would result in a more squarish image. Advice?