Pelican's big meal

[Steve Bein]

I forgot that I had this waiting to post. Larry's post reminded me. Thanks,
I saw a group of white pelicans feeding on large fish in Southern California. After swallowing them, their heads would vibrate for several minutes as the fish flopped inside them. As I was taking the images, I was thinking cover shot, cover shot and I kept shooting, until I realized that I hadput the camera on manual and adjusted for another situation. I corrected it and got a few keepers. As for this situation, life is a learning time and I hope some others learn from my mistake. On the other hand, I was so frustrated that I never submitted this image to any magazine. I should try again.
Anyway, here it is. 500mmx2x=1000mm ( 1.6 crop factor)
1/400 sec, f/10
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: -2/3
ISO: 100
Flash: Off
Tomorrow, a version of this original will be posted in Out OF The Box.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Angle and water color are great as is the action captured. The bird looks a bit soft on my monitor and the light very harsh. You could tone down the whites a bit more. It is also very tight in the frame. Where is the catchlight coming from?

[John Cooper]

You did very well Steve to catch this moment - huge fish, no wonder their heads would vibrate for a few minutes!!!
A little more space around the subject would improve the composition IMO. Well done!!!

[Linda Robbins]

Nice perspective and good pose....and that is one huge fish. Your description had me picturing their head's vibrating while the fish flopped around inside and brought a smile to my face. The water color is very attractive. The rather harsh light coming from the right was not ideal, and created shadows and bright areas on the bird. Whenever possible, try to move your position so that your shadow is pointing at the bird.

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Steve, Harsh light from the wrong angle but really big fish. Did you put in the catch light in the eye? You wrote: "Anyway, here it is. 500mmx2x=1000mm ( 1.6 crop factor)." Were you focusing manually?

[Robert O'Toole]

Great action and the colors are great, good job on the exposure considering the difficult situation.
Problems have already been mentioned above.

The fish looks like a trinidad pleco, sailfin catfish, or amoured catfish from central/south america. Its an invasive species and is normally a bottom feeder. The water level must be very low to allow a pelican to catch this kind of fish. Also this size fish can cause a pelican to have serious problems, sometimes even intestinal blockage as pelicans normal food is small size fish.

Robert

[Steve Bein]

I enhanced the catchlight. Manual focus, I was on a small point of land, Sepulveda Basin, Los Angeles. Absolutely no options to move. Light was harsh, morning sun shining on the bird. I cropped it closer, the actual shot has more room. I was delighted to find this a few years ago. I missed the migration this year. This area had been targeted by some gangs and I tried to work out a schedule with a friend who was an instructor for LAPD SWAT as a sting to catch the robbers, but no one was available when I was. At least one photographer, probably more, last year, had his long lens setup and all his equipment robbed at gunpoint. When I went back last time, the pelicans had left and the people there were peaceful. I guess some action had been taken to keep it safer, or it was an off day for the gangs.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks for the additional info. Did you focus manually?