Cormorant Portrait

[Michael Rogers]

Double-Crested Cormorant in full breeding plumage. For me these birds are not very photogenic until they come into full breeding, then they become beautiful in their own way. To show off this beauty I believe you have to get in tight. This image is full frame no crop. I know its head is centered and this was intentional as I wanted to show the brown feathers on its back and this composition accomplishes that. I love how the white plumes contrast with the black head. The head ange shows off the beautiful eye and beak detail.

Nikon D2X
300 2.8 AFS VR with 2X TCE
F8 1/400
ISO 200
-1 comp

[Jim Poor]

I'll add that the patterns in the bill on this one are really cool. The brows remind me of a Russian teacher I had a while back.

[Lance Warley]

Mission accomplished, Michael. Beautiful. The plumes are striking.

The eye, though, doesn't look "glassy" clear. Maybe that's just the way the eye looked on ths bird.

[James Salywoda]

Well done Mike an excellent shot I love the pose captured an those emerald green eyes standout nicely.

[BillPelzmann]

I agree, those are great "eyebrows". I've never seen this breeding plumage - spectacular!
Is this plumage the origin of the "double-crested" name?

If it were my image, I would crop the left side blue up to the start of the body.

[Arthur Morris]

Spectacular image which could be improved by lowering the contrast with a reverse S curves adjustment. Eastern birds of this species have black plumes; you guys are lucky!

What month and exactly where if you would be so kind.

later and love, artie

[Jim Poor]

Exif Data says March. 2007:03:01 09:048.

And to think, I lived right down the street from Huntington Beach a while back . . .

[Michael Rogers]

Image was taken at La Jolla Cliffs

[David Hemmings]

Looks like Phylis Diller, that being said it is a wonderful portrait that shows off the breeding plumage that I had not seen until now.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great details and the breeding plumage really makes it special. I agree that it is a bit too contrasty.

[Fabs Forns]

Lovely breeding plumage. We get the blue mouth but dark crest. If it were mine, I'd take some off the left. Very nice!

[Alfred Forns]

Love this image Michael Smoking bird !!!!! Just a tad less contrast as suggested Big Congrats !!!!