Pelican reaching the preen gland

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

40D. 400f5.6L at f/7.1. iso 320. 1/1000s. early morning light filtered through wispy clouds. full frame with some canvas added on three sides.

Inspired by all the Pelican images, I decided to give the ducks a break and visited the local Pelican population over the weekend. Although the number of Pelicans is less right now compared to early winter, this is the best time to shoot them here. Soon they'll fly off to the breeding grounds but they are already in gorgeous breeding plumage.

I had never got a shot with such neat view of the preen gland before. All C&C welcome.

[Stu Bowie]

Kaus, good eye level capture, and just love the ruffled feather detail. That eye is superb, and what a killer BG. Well captured.

[Daniel Cadieux]

You're right, that is quite the unobstructed view of that gland. The image works quite well, nice colours and perfect HA for this pose. I'm just not crazy about the water line skimming the top of the head. Getting a bit higher to avoid that would have been great.

[James Salywoda]

I really like the preening pose captured and the excellent detail throughout we also get a good look at the horn on the bill the grows in during its mating season. Well Done!

[Randy Stout]

Kaustubh:

Excellent capture, fine detail and texture in the feathers, good behavioural image, nice colors.

Agree with Dan about the far shore line, up on your toes a bit to clear the top of the head from that line would have helped.

Cheers

Randy

[Marina Scarr]

Stunning image all around. Agree photographing from higher if possible would have been optimal to get a clean blue BG. Everything came together for your nicely here.

[Pieter de Waal]

Nice pose and preening action captured Kaustubh. As mentioned great HA and eye contact.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

agree that higher angle would have been better here. Thx.

[Arthur Morris]

Killer, killer sweet light and bird. The blue water is to die for. Excellent point by Marina. Sometimes pulling the tripod legs a few inches can give you a bit of extra height.... Head and bill angle pretty much perfect for the preening pose: parallel to the back of the camera.

With the eye partially closed lightening the iris a bit would give the eye more pop....

[Danny J Brown]

Great catch, KD, and thanks for the instructional image on the preening gland. You really nailed on with a nice spring "antler," as well. Nice shot.

DB

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Killer, killer sweet light and bird. The blue water is to die for. Excellent point by Marina. Sometimes pulling the tripod legs a few inches can give you a bit of extra height.... Head and bill angle pretty much perfect for the preening pose: parallel to the back of the camera.

With the eye partially closed lightening the iris a bit would give the eye more pop....

Thx Artie. I was lying low on the pier as the pelican was going through some preening motions with head held high. I wanted those distant trees behind the head for smooth BG..that and I still dont have a head-throw shot :-) Then it suddenly decided to get some more oil. didn't get a chance to get higher. If I had been sitting instead of lying flat, wud have got the smooth blue BG all the way to the top.

[Arthur Morris]

Gotcha. BTW, it is the uropygial gland.

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Killer shot Kaus, a Wow from me. The soft light and raffled feathers are really sweet, not to mention the superb BG TFS

[RakeshDhareshwar]

This is a killer exposure !!! Good advise of making it from a higher angle . The sharpness and the pose is also amazing !!

[Troy Lim]

Killer exposure, love the whites.