Taken on the Otago Peninsula outside Dunedin on the South Island of New Zealand. I took this back in 2007 when I was still shooting only JPEG and with a Rebel XT. I believe the Little Blue Penguin is the smallest penguin in the world. They were definitely shy. Although we had special pemission to view them outside the hide, they hid behind rocks and in holes or whatever else they could find. I never got a clear shot without the rock in front.
Canon Rebel XT
100-400 @ 400mm
1/500
f8
ISO 400
Handheld, cropped and some shadows and highlights and selective sharpening applied.
Hi Rachel, Seeing that you had some restrictions and their shyness I feel you did OK. The head is sharp with good detail.I would have preferred the head to be lit but the exposure is good. I looked at cropping some of the rock's bottom but I didn't like it cut that way. The backround is muted but might try and tone down the top of the rock a bit.
In this situation going tighter is about the only way, need to do away with the foreground rock, does grab your attention !!! .. real nice looking bird !!
Thanks Dave, Al and Lance. I think the only way to get rid of the rock is to do a tight crop (which may have been what you were suggesting Al) so here's a repost. Let me know if it works.
Thanks,
Rachel
Last edited by Rachel Hollander; 06-30-2010 at 08:36 PM.
Reason: forgot attachment
Hi Rachel. Getting rid of the foreground rock really helps. Nice sharp eye. I got to see the Yellow-eyed Penguins on the Otago Peninsula a few years back, but never saw the Little Blues. Cool birds.
Thanks Bill. The Little Blues are cute and very small. I also got to see the Yellow Eyed on the Otago Peninsula and the Fiordland Crested Penguins over on the west coast of the South Island and at Doubtful Sound. I think the South Island has a lot of interesting birds with the 3 types of penguins, the Keas and the White Heron Colony. Unfortunately no wild Kiwis left as far as I know (of course, I'm only referring to the birds, not people).
Little Blue Penguin
