Double-crested cormorant with sushi

[Dennis Zaebst]

These birds never cease to amaze me. I watched this one swimming like a rocket underwater for a few seconds, and then he came up with this in his bill. Captured at Ding Darling this January about 9:20 AM. I have a sequence of about 16 images as he "dealt" with the fish. Make no mistake: he downed it bones and all.

Canon 1D IV, ISO 800
500 mm f/4L IS
1/2000 sec. @ f/8.0
Evaluative metering @ 0 EV EC
AV mode

PP in LR 4.3, about 50% crop for composition.

C/C encouraged and learned from.

[Diane Miller]

Wonderful!

If there is more of the reflection, I wonder how it would look to include it.

[Dennis Zaebst]

Diane, here you go. I tried a vertical and I like it! Thanks for the suggestion - what do you think?

[Frank Schauf]

Great timing, great action.

[Diane Miller]

I love including the reflection; the calm water in that area makes it special!

[Dennis Zaebst]

Thanks for the suggestion Diane. I think its an improvement over the OP.

[arash_hazeghi]

nice action I like the details on the fish!

Composition wise the OP is better because it matches the profile of the floating bird. the vertical looks a bit awkward with the bird clipped on the right side (although that part is under the water and we don't see it directly but our brain extends it and expects to see canvas there). a lower shooting angle would have been better and I wish the sun was behind you.

TFS

[Karl Egressy]

Great catch for both of you Dennis.

[Dennis Zaebst]

Thank you Karl and Arash. I agree about the sun angle, but there was no moving to the left without greatly increasing the distance to the bird. I've re-cropped to horizontal, but kept the full reflection.