Waved Albatross Mating Ritual

[Rachel Hollander]

I hope I'm doing this right. It's my first time posting on here. Taken in April 2009 in the Galapagos on Espanola Island:



Canon 50D
100-400 L at 120 mm
ISO 200
Av f8
Tv 1/500
Cropped slightly

Thanks for looking

[Dave Mills]

Hi Rachel, Welcome aboard!
Nice interaction between the 2 birds.
A few things..first the lighting is a bit harsh so some of the whites appear blown
Secondly,the colors of the birds match closely to the rocks and their merges can be distracting.
Might crop a little off the left.
Nice effort...keep them coming...

[Rachel Hollander]

Dave - Thanks for the comments and welcome. Yes, it was harsh light. I forgot to post that I tried to compensate by -1 on the exposure. Also was using AWB. The birds and the rocks do match closely but that's their natural colors. Thanks again.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Rachel - big warm welcome to BPN - Dont hesitate to jump right in and leave comments on other peoples images, all we ask is that you say what you like or dont like about the image - no better or faster way to learn yourself.
Galapagos -Wow on my bucket list for sure!!!
I agree with daves comments - although I am guessing that your ability to change positions or time that you were on the island was limited.
Love the interaction - exposure was always going to be tough in harsh light.
SOFTER light and the ability to move change your position would have been the only way to improve.
Keep em coming :)

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Rachel Big Warm Welcome !!!!

Agree with comments and biggest change would have been getting to sun angle, since you can't use a flash there you need the bird naturally lit up !! Stopping down was the right thing to do so the whites would not get blown but a plus one was needed for the shadows ... you did correct !!! ... when you spot action go to sun angle even if you are going to pass up shots getting there, will have more keepers !! Looking forward to the next one !!!

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Welcome and congrats on your post. Techs covered by the moderators.
Regards,

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks everyone for the comments and welcome. Unfortunately these albatrosses were at the end of the path and in an out of bounds area so that I could not reposition. Also the times of the landing on the islands is dictated by the park service so that Lance is correct that I could not alter the time of the shoot either to get better light. The Galapagos are an incredible photographic opportunity and I would encourage all to go there if possible. If you do go be sure to include Espanola (the only place you can see the Waved Albatross from late March to December), Genovesa (to see Red Footed Boobies) and the western islands of Fernandina (for Flightless Cormorants and overall diversity) and Isabela. Thanks again for the tips, comments and warm welcome.