White Breasted Cormorant

[Stu Bowie]

I feel slightly intimidated posting my image with all these fine images below me. I was standing alongside the Milnerton Lagoon in Cape Town looking out for passing flight shots, when this White Breasted Cormorant surfaced close by. He was so close that I had to change my lens to minimum focussing distance. These guys surface for a split second, and then dive down looking for their next meal. When they surface, its normally a fair distance from where they dived. I was lucky that I had seen this guy swimming towards me, so when he dived away from me, this is where he surfaced. Cape Town is not known for many windless days, so having a near clear reflection was a bonus due to the water being dead calm. Taken early morning.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300mm F/2.8 +2X TC = 600mm
1/1250
F/7.1
ISO 640

Hand Held

[Randy Stout]

Stu:

I like this one a lot. Perfect shooting angle to get a nice reflection, still,blue water, well exposed, good eye.

Good anticipation to grab this one when he popped up.

Cheers

Randy

[David Salem]

The cormorant looks great and I love the details, reflecion and the green eye but the beautifully smooth water makes this one stand out IMO. Very nice Stu

[Randy Rimland]

even the feathers under water show good detail,very nicely done

[gail bisson]

The water is beautiful and you have a terrific reflection as well.
The water ripples remind me of wind vortexes that I sometimes see over plane wings.
IQ is excellent and good POV.
Beautiful light as well.
No need to be intimidated with this fine image!
Gail

[Daniel Cadieux]

I love it! The neck submerging under the water is a terrific touch. Good details and perfect water, especially the lines.

[Steve Kaluski]

Now that's a 'belter' of an image Stu, love the colour palette and the blue of the water, makes for a perfect backdrop to the warm colours of the subject.

I was lucky that I had seen this guy swimming towards me,

How true Stu, looks like folk may be drinking this guys habitat if the water shortage continues in CT.

TFS
Steve

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks for the honest feedback everyone. Always appreciated.

[Isaac Grant]

I love the calm water and the great reflection. I am torn about the crop. I would prefer more room above and less below. But then your bird would be lower in the frame. That is a bit of a problem on shots like this were you stay higher to include the reflection. Do you have more room on the right? Feels a little cramped.

[Stu Bowie]

Do you have more room on the right? Feels a little cramped.

Thanks a stack Isaac. Do you mean more room infront of the Cormorant - then that would be on the left. The crop is as shot in camera. I would have to add canvas to the left.

[Isaac Grant]

No I mean on the right Stu. The edge of the birds tail is almost touching the edge of the frame and I find the messed water on one side and the perfect reflection on the other a nice balance. Wish we could see more of what as going on on the right.

[Stu Bowie]

No I mean on the right Stu. The edge of the birds tail is almost touching the edge of the frame and I find the messed water on one side and the perfect reflection on the other a nice balance. Wish we could see more of what as going on on the right.

My Apologies Isaac. Unfortunately, as mentioned, no more space either side. I also didnt have time to play around. I think he dived the moment I pressed the shutter. In all this, I still had to compose to ensure I was covering the reflection. As you know, sometimes nature doesnt wait around.

[Isaac Grant]

No need to apologize. I certainly could have been more descriptive as well . And yes, that about sums up nature photography perfectly,

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Well done Stu! This is wonderful. Don't feel intimidated mate. Your work rocks!