Pink-footed Shearwater

[Dan Brown]

Captured from a boat in Monterey Bay, CA while on a pelagic birding trip with Moneterey Seabirds. Cropped (about 15%) and converted with NX2, PP'ed in CS3, nr and selective sharpening with Noiseware Pro and USM. Comments and critique welcome.

Camera Model: NIKON D300, handheld
Shutter speed: 1/750 sec
Aperture: 8
Exposure mode: Manual
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 800
Lens: VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D
Focal length: 400mm
Focal length: 600mm (in 35mm film)
AF mode: AF-C

[Paul Lagasi]

Looks like it was a good day on the water, calm conditions make for good photos. I really like the birds pose and relection, sharp where it needs to be...TFS

[Doug Brown]

Where's the picture of your prize bird from the pelagic trip Dan? I like this one a lot. Wings are sharp and well exposed. I might sharpen the head a bit more. I'd crop a little off the left and the bottom and go with more of a pano.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Agree with Doug's crop suggestions.

This is very good Dan. I loved what the ripples have done to the reflection.

[Arthur Morris]

Sweet bird, sweet REFL. I love the soft light. I thought that the 80-400 could not focus.... As much as I love this image I do wish that there were more room in front and less in back.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

I also agree with Doug about the pano crop. Cool looking bird and very good under wing details.

[James Salywoda]

Excellent! Nice banking pose Dan I think you probably could add a touch of selective sharpening.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Very good work Dan. Love it. I'd crop this as a vertical if it were my image. I think that may work nicely. :) Good job!

Just rethought something, I meant more square rather than vertical, I doubt you have cropped much from the bottom.

[Dan Brown]

Where's the picture of your prize bird from the pelagic trip Dan?

Doug, here's a link to a post regarding the Great-winged Petrel in Avian ID with a photo and a link to Monterey Seabirds with more details.

Thanks all for the great suggestions on composition! I did do a double-take after I posted this and thought that it might need some changes and it's nice to have your valued opinions!