courting gannets

[John Chardine]

I tried some blurs the other day while at Bonaventure Island. This pair had just re-united and they were courting intensely. Purposely shot from above to create a feeling of candid action. Not sure if this works so let me know either way!

There was a butt of a gannet chick in the upper right BG, which I clone out.

Canon EOS 5D, 85mm f1.2
capture date: Friday, July 10, 2009 10:19:16 AM
exposure program: Aperture Priority
ISO speed: 100
shutter speed: 1/30
aperture: f16.0
exposure bias: +0.0
metering: Pattern
flash: ON - beamer

[Jackie Schuknecht]

John I like your angle of capture. Is it the male?? in the BG trying to badger/impress the female. Being a layperson in this respect I don't know if this would represent courtship behaviour to me. But I do see a lot of beak movement.:)

[denise ippolito]

John, I like the blurred beaks and the eyes look great!! I like it and keep thinking if you cropped on the bottom to the top of the 2 small blades of grass it may create more interest in the blur. Just my thoughts. I do like the image and it holds my interest!!

[John Chardine]

Jackie- I can't remember which one was the male. They look identical but you can often tell with behaviour. When one gannet returns to the other at the nest, the male will often bite the back of the neck of the female and she will face away from the male and hide her bill. This is all "courtship behaviour" and symbolic- they are getting to know each other and getting used to being close to each other. The male does not injure the female when he does this.

Denise- I thought they were blades of grass too until I enlarged the image and realised I was looking at a gannet foot. They have black feet with these lime green lines running down each toe- quite amazing. That's why I cropped there because it provides a foundation for the BG bird. I will try cutting some from the bottom though.

Thanks!

[denise ippolito]

John, Now that I know it's a foot I'd leave it. Thanks.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I like the blurred head in the rear bird John. I particularly like how the blue in the eye moves in the capture. I was trying to find the grass D was talking about to no avail. Then I read your reply with the foot. It's interesting how we all see things differently. And that's no criticism implied. I did note it was a foot straight away and was getting immensely p1ssed that I cannot see the GD grass D was talking about. That is why she is the OOTB and creative Queen and I shall remain the Dunce with a bold, capital D. I see everything B&W. Not good. :(

I would prefer to see this sort of image from their eye level rather than the human perspective. Perhaps i have slowly conditioned myself to think that 'eye level' is always best.

Thanks for sharing. :)

[denise ippolito]

Akos, I never saw a Gannet before and I had no clue what their feet looked like.Perhaps if I did I would not have thought grass:p:):eek:

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Akos, I never saw a Gannet before and I had no clue what their feet looked like.Perhaps if I did I would not have thought grass:p:):eek:

Sorry, you know I meant nothing bad. :) I never saw one up close either. My only one, a fleeting fly-by about 50m away. What I meant is that your vision is so beyond mine (I am stuck in a little square), that you can easily see and note things that I would never do. And that is meant as a compliment. :cool:

[denise ippolito]

Akos, I wasn't mad I was laughing when I wrote it.:) I think it's funny how you were describing how you were a dunce. Sorry didn't mean to come off mad-I was cracking up!!:D

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I am glad I cracked you up yet again D. :) My job's done.

[John Chardine]

For the two of you who obviously have a gannet foot fetish!

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I am cracking up now Sir. That's a great call! :D Thanks from both Denise and me.

[denise ippolito]

John, Thankyou for posting the feet. They look neat. I never saw them before!!