Pelican with Breakfast

[Rachel Hollander]

I normally shoot wildlife but BPN has gotten me interested in birds too. I had a chance to go to Ding Darling Reserve on Sanibel Island in Florida for a few hours this past weekend and shot lots of bird photos.

Canon 7D
100-400 @ 210 mm
1/1600
f8
ISO 400
EC +1/3
Handheld from the shore. Cropped because I cut off its tail.

C&C welcome and appreciated.

Thanks,
Rachel

[John Chardine]

Great action Rachel! I like the composition, the whites look good. The only thing I would suggest is one more round of sharpening which will bring out the detail in regions like the pouch, feathers, the eye, etc. I really like it.

[Hazel Grant]

so hard to get whites right without being blown. you did well. sorry you cut off the tail in the capture but good solutioin.

[Cody Covey]

Composition looks good and I think this probably works better than a shot with the whole bird because it really emphasizes the breakfast :) Nice job keeping the whites white!

[Paul Guris]

Love the shot. The reflection isn't really eye catching so I think I'd trim about 1/3 off the bottom of it, pretty much just taking out your copyright.

[Julie Kenward]

I agree with a bit off the bottom...this is a beauty, Rachel! You did very well on getting the whites properly exposed. It did leave the blue water fairly dark, though. You might open a levels adjustment layer and try sliding the midtones to the left around 1.20 and see if that looks better to you. If you love the deep blue water as is, that's fine, too!

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. Jules - on this one I do prefer the deeper blue water.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Sid Garige]

Rachel,

Exceptional job and perfect timing. Excellent image.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Sid. Much appreciated.