Tried to Resist...

[Arthur Morris]

I tried to avoid photographing the Brown Pelicans on my recent Galapagos trip but with this light what was I to do???

Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens handheld from the panga (Zodiac) with the EOS 40D. ISO 1000. Evalative metering +1 stop: 1/400 sec. at f/4. (I was set up for birds in the sky but followed my rule: if unexpected action occurs and you think that you have the wrong EXP, push the button! (If you try to change the EXP, you will wind up with nothing.) With just a bit of underexposure during conversion, the whites were fine.

Don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[Ramon M. Casares]

It looks noisy, but that's about it, I love the light, it is almost too beautiful! Congratulations!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The light is almost unreal. Was this just before sunset? I might lighten those rocks a bit and for some reason my eyes are drawn to that little bright spot on the chest.

[Steve Maxson]

I agree - you can't pass this up - and it is an endemic subspecies, after all. :) Amazing light and a cooperative bird to go with it. Looks like Black Turtle Cove at sunrise (?) I agree with Ramon about noise in the background - my only nit.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I feel it is perfectly balanced compositionally and the light is bordering on surreal, well in a stunning way is what I mean. Well handled with those whites Artie. :) You can fix the noise too.

[Maxis Gamez]

Love the pose and light. I would remove some of the noise.

[Rosl Roessner]

I think, this is a new species, it's not a brown pelican but a Golden Pelican!

[Aristotle Georgiou]

Mate the light is unreal! wing spread adds to the shot also.
Excellent work Arthur.

[David Hemmings]

Arthur, with this light, fire away! The light really makes this shot. I would like it more if the larger rock structure in front of the landing area wasnt there, but hey, it is:) Noise mentioned already.

[Ed Erkes]

Whites are just a little hot and the pelican looks a little soft to me! The rocks on the left border are much sharper than the pelican.

[Krijn Trimbos]

As we don't see to many pelicans here in the Netherlands, to me this rocks, especially the light! Love the pose, the rocks, and headturn, I would be interested in seeing this from a slightly lower angle. Excellent shot.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Hi Artie,
Lovely light and wing spread. I agree with you that if the exp. is wrong then trip the shutter. Too many times, I have fumbled with the settings to find that the action is gone. And these days when I trip the shutter, even if the exp. is wrong, then I find pp skills lets me down. :-(

The light is amazing. I always get high, when I see such fabulous light. I am sure, in such situations, you must be thinking that God has been kind.

[Arthur Morris]

As we don't see to many pelicans here in the Netherlands, to me this rocks, especially the light! Love the pose, the rocks, and headturn, I would be interested in seeing this from a slightly lower angle. Excellent shot.

Just above the darker tones at the top are mangrove roots :)