Pelican

[Dana Perkins]

Canon 5D, 1/1600 sec, f/8, ISO 400
300mm f/2.8 + 1.4, focal length 420mm, no flash, tripod

I took this photograph last fall while sitting on a pier. I appreciate your help.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Nice shot, I would crop some on top and tighten up the bottom a tad. Nice texture in the whites, how much crop and did you apply, any EC. Well done, great use of light!

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Dana

I like the image a lot Very elegant and well presented .. not your typical pelican image.

Crop wise will go along with suggestion of taking something (little) at the bottom but not sure about the top, sure do like those subtle tones up there Great feel !!! Excellent light on the bird !! Big Congrats !!!

[Lance Peters]

Hi Dana - sweet light, like the pose - good Ha and eye contact - agree might take just a tad off the bottom would leave the top.
Congrats - like it a lot :)

[denise ippolito]

Dana, Beautiful colors!! and I agree w/ a bit off the bottom,also looks like a slight rotation is needed. The lighting is special and you have a nice HA-Well done!

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Dana. I love this kind of light and composition. Agree with comments regarding crop from the bottom and a slight CW rotation. I would also like to see this with the to cropped at the water line. This is just personal taste, but I find my eye bouncing back and forth from the bird to the foliage at the top, which is beautiful btw.

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Dana,
I like this as presented...:D You have good fine details and a clear eye, with the complimenting head angle, just right...I like the soft color elements on top, it adds a splash of color to your image, which I think is very pleasing...congrats...looking forward to your next one...:cool:

[Harold Davis]

those water colors are fantastic!! might try to accentuate them just a bit. agree with denise, it does need a little CW rotation. i like this a lot, dana!

[Dana Perkins]

Thank you all very much! I took a little more off the bottom and rotated CW as advised.
Jeff, I used aperture priority, -1 EC, and cropped the image about 50%.

[Don Berendsen]

Hi Dana,

I was writing and playing in PS as you were posting your response, no need to repeat those comments...:)

First, this is a really beautiful image, the contrasts between the bird and background really brings out the character in both and the placement of the pelican is very nice.

Although I agree with the need for CW rotation and cropping, I feel your reworked image goes a little to far with the crop on the bottom and so loses some of the dynamic balance of the placement. Below is an alternative view I did before seeing yours, I wasn't going to post it but since you've already made the changes I thought it might provide some interest as another possibility.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Dana,

Thanks, I love the vertical perspective and the -1 protected the whites, nice work.

This is a great nature shot. if it were me, I would print, frame and wall hang - it has a fantastic feel!!