Nazca Booby (Sula granti)

[Bill Dix]

D90; 80-400 VR @ 370mm. ISO 400. f/7.1, 1/2500s. -1.0 EV. HH. 93% of full-frame.

Until recently the Nazca Booby was considered a sub-species of the Masked Booby, but has recently been declared a separate species, endemic to the eastern tropical Pacific (mostly the Galapagos, where this was taken several weeks ago). I'll post a few more images of him in coming days. I thought of cropping this tighter to make it a pure head shot, but wanted to include a bit of the dark brown wing. Does this comp work? C&C appreciated.

[Dave Leroy]

Interesting looking bird. The white plummage looks a bit like powdery snow.
Nice bg.
I like the way bird is shown and might suggest a bit off the left but not much.
It could perhaps be a bit lighter around the eye area.
Very nicely exposed and a really nice photo.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Bill - lovely details in those whites - Gorgeous.
Would brighten the eye just a tad.
Like the BG compliments the bird nicely.
Good show :)

[Dave Mills]

Hi Bill, Image is well handled! Lighting is soft and pleasing along with a beautiful backround.The detail is all there and framed very well. Well done!!

[Thanaboon Jearkjirm]

Nicely captured, sharp and really good details in white. The background is nice also. Just wish for a more slight head turn toward you. Agree with lighten the eye a bit and crop a little off the left side.

[Rachel Hollander]

Bill - nice image and the BG really makes it. Was this on Espanola up near the blowhole?

Rachel

[Bill Dix]

Bill - nice image and the BG really makes it. Was this on Espanola up near the blowhole?

Rachel

Thanks Rachel. I did take some shots there, but this was taken on South Plaza where there was a major Nazca colony.

[Ian Cassell]

I really like this one. I actually like the space on the left.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Bill these are great birds, it's fascinating when you see them offer twigs and stones to their partners during the breeding season, quite comical. Definitely shot in the right light, September when I went was very sunny and is a real issue to photograph these birds without blowing the whites.

I think there is more you can get out of your image. I just tweaked in Saturation, Curves & Colour balance with another round of USM, hope you don't mind, but trust this might help you. If you have a similar one perhaps cropping tight & portrait? Glad you retained the 'chocolate brown' of the wings.

Steve

[Bill Dix]

Thank you Steve. I've sometimes been guilty of oversharpening, so I might have been a bit tentative on this one -- your extra pass of USM definitely helped. The additional saturation pushes this a notch beyond reality, but really helps to make the bird pop, and gives more blue to the bg. I like it, and will tweak my master file accordingly. Thanks for the suggestions. These are brilliantly white birds, so protecting the whites is a big issue. I was lucky to have a day of mixed sun and clouds.

When I was there the Blue-foots were in the throes of their courtship, which I think they do for much of the year; but the Nazcas were beyond that stage and were rearing their young (I'll post some more images shortly).

[Steve Kaluski]

I will try to look out for them when I get back. Slightly cloudy is perfect for these. :)

Steve