Before the plunge

[wendell westfall]

D70s 70-200VR+2X@140 1/1600 f/10 ISO500 -1EV handheld

I caught this guy at the top of his flight, just before he turned to plunge down into the water. In the background I cloned out a part of another pelican. The image is cropped and sharpened with some S/H correction, as well. Are the feathers sharply defined enough?

Wendell

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Wendell,
I like the captured flight angle, and the unconventional wing spread. I like the fine feather details, the head angle and the sharp eye. Would suggest on adjusting the mid-tones just a tad to lighten the pelican just a little. Well done Sir. Keep them coming...:cool:

[Kerry Perkins]

Hello Wendell,
Agree with Mr. Cobos on pushing up the curve a little for the bird. I also think the sky is quite dark and could use some light. It looks like you did some selective work on the bird and a bit of the bg got left out. Look between the bird's left leg and the tail. I think the whole sky should be more like that.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Wendell - Gus and Kerry have it nailed - like the different pose.
Good show :)

[wendell westfall]

Hi Kerry:
Agreed!
"Look between the bird's left leg and the tail. I think the whole sky should be more like that"
A bit sloppy on my part not to have noticed that . . .