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Thread: Brandt's Cormorant: A Sparkling Blue Sapphire

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Default Brandt's Cormorant: A Sparkling Blue Sapphire

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    I just spent a week photographing with my wife in Southern California. We visited La Jolla to see the Brown Pelicans, but found some other birds there that were no less stunning. Here's a Brandt's Cormorant in breeding plumage. What an incredible eye!

    Canon 1Dx, 600mm II + 1.4x III, f/7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, manual exposure, hand held
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    Excellent image Doug! The eye is incredible and the blue BG compliments it well. There is also a blue sheen in the black feathers that really adds to the image. Details, exposure and composition are perfect.

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    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    What a stunning portrait, Doug. Super colors and details with the perfect angle. Glad you two had such a super trip.
    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Doug, incredible sharpness, and just love the graduation of colours. I would say perfect light too. The water BG sets off the whole image nicely. Well captured.

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    Excellent image! Very nicely done.

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    Great colors, I love the shading from blues to greens and that eye is terrific. Also like the little white feathers for the detail and contrast they add. Very nice.

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    Doug something to aim for ,this is excellent love the way all the colours blend and what can you say about that eye!

    Keith.

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    Cormorant eyes are strange even for birds. You got this one just right.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Doug - beautiful portrait with excellent sharpness and detail. The colors pop out even in the thumbnail.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Perfect light angle and exposure work here. The eye is captivating. Some of the best colors rendered that I've seen of this species.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    My first reaction was WOW, so was my second! Beautiful colours sharpness and detail, the sky makes for a perfect backdrop - excellent shot.

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Doug, this is pretty awesome! Love the colours, details, comp. The pelicans may be the star of that location, but man I'd be out searching for one of these too!

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jonathan Ashton View Post
    My first reaction was WOW, so was my second! Beautiful colours sharpness and detail, the sky makes for a perfect backdrop - excellent shot.
    Thanks Jonathan! One correction; it's a water BG, not a sky one.
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    Love the perfectly framed bird, the perfect head turn, iridescent colors and the gorgeous water bg. As elegant as a portrait can get. Makes me kick myself for ever having ignored cormorants.

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    Lifetime Member David Salem's Avatar
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    What a great portrait of this beautiful bird Doug.
    The colors are awesome and the detail and exposure are perfect.
    Very nice.

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    I like everything ...the bird is a stunner!

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone for the comments!
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