Here is a Northern Gannet preening. As you probably can guess it was created at Bonaventure Island, Quebec last week. This bird was roosting on top of the roof of an observation platform and so made it easy to isolate and place in front of a blue sky. I highly recommend this trip with Chris Dodds, and you get Artie as co-leader on some of them!!
I selectively darkened the body of the bird to bring out more detail in the white plumage. Crop and other usual processing.
40D, 500 mm f4
capture date: Monday, June 16, 2008 42:06 PM
exposure program: Aperture Priority
ISO speed: 400
shutter speed: 1/3200
aperture: f8.0
exposure bias: +0.0
metering: Pattern
flash: ON - Beamer, (can't remember compensation if any)
A nice display of the eye here. I also like the leading lines on the beak as presented. The preening pose and the blue bg is a nice combination as well. I like the brown coloration of the head as shown. It helps off set the white body. You can almost feel the soft downy feathers. Looks like it was worth the trip.
Really a stunning image John and i love your choice of cropping in this capture Wonderful exposure with exceptional detal.but the eye makes this image for me. Great work !!
Love the careful framing of the coverts, the excellent head angle, and the blue sky. We did enjoy an incredible wealth of opportunities.
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John this is a beautiful preening photo and some of the reasons I think it works so well is that the eye is completely open, the ruffled feathers, and the nice blue sky. Great job!
preening portrait
2:06 PM
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