Gannet in the sunset

[Lance Peters]

Heading a little out of the box on this one, may not be to everyone's taste.

This is straight from the camera - no added effects in PP - all that was done in PP was - Crop - Sharpen - little S/H.

D3
Sigmonster @800 mm
F5.6
1/60th
800 ISO
+1.0EV
Matrix Metering
Tripod
Manual Flash @ 1/8th

Took quite a few shots in the short space of time looking for the effect I was after - the BG is the sunset sky - foreground was partially blocked by my shooting position.

Comments welcome - dont be shy :)

[Richard Waas]

I absolutely love this one Lance..... Congrats!! A work of art......

[Gus Cobos]

This is excellent Mr. Peters...well done...I like the soft dream like quality that this image has...the details are superb and the quality of the bird's eye puts this one over the top in my book...my hat off to you Sir...keep them coming...:D:cool:

By the way...I will probably be paying you a visit next year to see if we can photograph some of these beautiful creatures...:cool:

[Lance Peters]

Hi Gus - cannot wait my friend, would be delighted to introduce you to my friends :)

[Lance Peters]

OHH By the way - this guy was my 2000TH post piccy :) :)

[denise ippolito]

Lance, Really beautiful ! colors are great,really dreamy quality-well done.

[Gus Cobos]

Congratulations on your 2,000th pic my friend...:):cool:

[Jeni Williams]

Congrats on your 2000th and what a way to bring up the number. I love anything artistic and I know I'm not allowed to say it but what the heck.........WOW!!! :D:D

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Great effects Lance. Very sharp and soft feel.

[Ilija Dukovski]

Just perfect. I love the fact that you captured the pink-ish
BG and yellow-ish head on one go. I'd love to know what color temp
is right in this situation?

Cheers, Ilija

[David Thomasson]

One word: Outstanding!!

[Alfred Forns]

I'm impressed Lance !!! Fine image ... this deserves a Big Time Congrats !!!!

[Doug Brown]

Beautiful image Lance. I'd like to know the story behind the photo. How did the environment come out looking like it did?

[Lance Peters]

Hi Doug - pure luck - guess some would call it vision.

Gannet colony is on a cliff top - sun sets in the direction that the bird is looking - on this evening the clouds had extened right around to the left - hence I was able to shoot with sidelighting and still get the sunlit clouds in the bg. The gannet himself was not located on the top of the cliff - he was sort of down over the side of the cliff popping his head up every now and again to see what I was up to - I had my gitzo as low as I could get it - I was sort of in a bit of a depression on top of the cliff and there were some humps and bumps between myself and the bird - I think a lot of the bottom section is perhaps some lens flare as well.

I would have liked a bit more body of the bird in the shot - but what you see here is basically what I could see down and over the cliff side.

Long story - sorry:) -- I Have a few more from around the same time - think this is the best though.

[Kerry Perkins]

Absolutely gorgeous! Good on ya mate! Nothing to critique...

[Harold Davis]

800mm at 1/60s!!? and that sharp!!!? wow! big congrats on a fine piece of art. call it luck or call it what you want. you did most excellent!

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Looks ethereal Lance. Unbelievable light.

[Hazel Grant]

OK, I'm sure I'm not thinking correctly, but if you joined in March 08, how did you post 2000 pictures when we are limited to one per day?????

By the way, this is a beautiful photo.....great way to celebrate a milestone of postings.

[Lance Peters]

Maybe I worded that wrong - to celebrate my 2000th post (not 2000th picture) :)

[Hazel Grant]

Oh, that makes sense. And again. BEAUTIFUL PHOTO!!!!!!!! CONGRATS!