LJ pelican with very red throat pouch

[Phil Colla]

Yet another LJ pelican shot (yup, virtually the only birds I photograph). The background dropped from bright blue to steel gray due to the heavy clouds on the horizon, but full morning sun was still hitting the birds. Gave up flight shots in order to try to depict the olive and red throat colors and neck details, this was the best image I got yesterday. I shot many frames like this but only a couple really had the sharpness and DOF I was looking for.

1DsII / 500 + 2x / ISO 400 / f/14 @ 1/400, manually metering based on just-avoiding-the-blinkies, placing the focus point 1/3 into the focus range of interest to maximize meaningful DOF.

[John Cooper]

Wow,you should be pleased with this one Phil - just perfect in my books!! I like your tight framing concentrating on the colourful bill preening the feathers, and the slate blue BG seems to the ideal tone of blue for this bird. I Just love the feather detail - is that the Canon 500mm?

[Maxis Gamez]

Hi Phil,

Love the exposure and composition. The pose is a classic. Excellent work.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the composition, exposure control and details. Near the edges there are some spots the NR missed. ;)

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Very striking image with great pose and wonderful color and exposure. I really like the crop in this one.

[Georgina Salup]

WOW! Beatiful pose, colors and great detail. A real "Jolla" I can't wait to see these Pelicans.

[Fabs Forns]

I would say this is as good as it gets!

[Phil Colla]

is that the Canon 500mm?

Thanks John. Yes, it is the Canon 500.

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Great details,pose,light and BG!!!

[Glenn Bartley]

I love the composition and colors in this image. Well done!

[Mike Lentz]

WOW! I'm coming back out there, this is perfect!

[Robert O'Toole]

Very sweet Phil.

The only way to improve it would be to do a little contrast control on the bill and some feathers near the bottom edge.

Otherwise very nice.

Robert