Heads Up!

[Bonnie Block]

I debated on whether to present this guy here--but why not? LOL!:eek:
This Double-crested Comorant was coming in for a landing on an abandoned pier. The birds spend all day coming and going knocking each other off and falling in the water when they don't make the perch. Pretty clumsy and goofy. I would have wished for less wing blur here--but actually if you have ever seen their wings this close--they are not a pretty sight. Scraggly and torn--so it is probably good we cannot see them so well. :D

7D 500/4 L IS
1/640s f/6.3 at 500.0mm iso500

[Richard Mc Donald]

Wing blur suits the shot Bonnie but then a freeze would also go down well. Must be a great spot to capture pictures of these birds.

Richard

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Bonnie, sharp where it counts, and good DOF to have the tip of the beak and the tail all in perfect focus. I like the hint of blue sky in the BG too. Well captured.

[Fabs Forns]

Nice landing pose with a strong sense of movement. I think the critical focus went to the tail, because the eye is not as sharp as could be?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the landing pose and don't mind the motion blur at all but wish the near wing were further back and it would be even stronger with bill/wing separation.

[Bonnie Block]

Nice landing pose with a strong sense of movement. I think the critical focus went to the tail, because the eye is not as sharp as could be?

Yes, Fabs--I you are right. The focus point actually shows up on the body and the bird's left wing--the bird stuck its head far enough forward to get it in the plane of focus a bit.
I am trying to capture a certain image of these guys on the pier. Haven't succeeded yet. They are a bit off shore-and it is hard for me to stay right on them with their little skinny necks.

[Tony Whitehead]

I like the pose, Bonnie. Typical cormorant with the maniacal look in the eye as they come in for a chaotic landing. Plane of focus as mentioned by Fabs is the only big issue. May be worth bumping the ISO up to 800 to gain a bit more DOF with a smaller aperture.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Wonderful timing Bonnie and great action. !!!!! Everything else has been covered and many thanks for sharing.

[Kiran Poonacha]

loved the focus, detals and the pose. the wing blur adds well to this.. congrats.