Double-crested Cormorant with white crests raised

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created This image was created in San Diego last February with the Induro GIT 304L/Mongoose M3.6-mounted Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 2X III, and the mega mega-pixel Canon EOS 5DS R. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3 stops as framed: 1/125 sec. at f/8. AWB.

Center AF point (by necessity)/AI Servo Expand/Rear Focus AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure; the selected AF point fell on the side of the bird’s neck just rear of the base of its bill. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Eastern birds of this species have crests in breeding plumage, but they are–for the most part–black. Each year when I visit San Diego we manage to find a killer bird or two in full breeding plumage with the white crests.

I would love to hear what you think of this image, especially with regards to sharpness.

a

[Bill Dix]

A handsome specimen. Wish we had these white-crested ones in the east. Well exposed in whites and blacks, and I love the colors. The eye looks razor-sharp to me, where it counts most. A bit less head turn, or more DOF, might have rendered the bill a bit sharper.

[Isaac Grant]

Such a great looking cormorant. Really wish we got them looking like that in NY. Considering SS of 1/125 and using a 2x it is crazy sharp. However I do think you have posted sharper images.

I have another framing question. The eye on this bird is certainly left of center in the frame. This is the type of image where I (not saying this is the right thing to do) would always take some of the dead space from the right and give more on the left for the bird to look into. Could you explain why it is cropped this way. I have much to learn...

[arash_hazeghi]

Excellent pose and details, sharp. I love the BG too. HA is great. The tip of the bill is running out of DOF I may try to selectively sharpen it a tad more like this. would come out much better starting from RAW

[stuart wanuck]

looks good to me really pops

[annmpacheco]

Handsome repost Arash, the gorgeous bird pops with that specific sharpening, fantastic!

[Ritesh Nangare]

what an beautiful portrait is this ..... Arthur loved it all the way..... No word to say. just fantabulous ....

TFS,
Ritesh.....

[Arthur Morris]

I have another framing question. The eye on this bird is certainly left of center in the frame. This is the type of image where I (not saying this is the right thing to do) would always take some of the dead space from the right and give more on the left for the bird to look into. Could you explain why it is cropped this way. I have much to learn...

Hi Isaac, In an ideal world, I might have focused and re-framed to move the bird back in the frame just a bit. But being on the precarious edge of sharpness because of the relatively slow shutter speed and another factor that will be revealed on the blog soon, I wanted to be sure to have AF active at the moment of exposure. And don't forget that with the 5DS R at f/8 with the 2X TC, I was limited to the center AF point... "Center AF point (by necessity)"

Thus, the image design was determined by the situation.

a

[David Salem]

What a great looking portrait you have here. A classic Arthur Morris frame. Love the raised crests and the sweet details and exposure. Very nice and printable.