Pied Shag - Ohope Beach , New Zealand

[Tony Whitehead]

I've seen a bit of bad press relating to Cormorants, Egyptian Geese and Coots on the site but am rather fond of all of them - so here's one for the cormorants (or shags as they are known in New Zealand) :D
Nikon D300
Nikon 200-400+1.4x @550mm
1/1250s f5.6 matrix -2/3.
I like the soft light and colours. Not too fond of the BG (too many clam shells) even after some APTATS patching and selective blurring:(
Comments and advice appreciated

[John Cooper]

You have done very well here Tony with the black & white plumage of this Pied Cormorant showing good detail. Nicely composed in the frame. The shells don't bother me at all.

[Anita Rakestraw]

I'm not so fond of the blotches in the upper part of the bg, but the identifiable shells add to the environment in my opinion. Agree with John about the nice exposure of the blacks and whites.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the angle and setting. Exposure control and details look good. Might work as a vertical, too.

[Jim Poor]

I like the shells, especially the ones that are sharp enough to recognize. The exposure is good with the black & white bird too.

No one else has mentioned it, so it may just be my morning eyes, but the it looks to me like the focus is more on the feathers on the back than on the eye. Maybe a bit of selective sharpening of the eye could help.

[Isak Pretorius]

Lovely composition, angle and lighting. (I'm rather fond of them too...)

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

I really like the composition and the low angle!