pelican

[Wendy Kates]

This image was shot from a boat on my Galapagos trip. I like the way the foliage frames the pelican, but am eager to hear your comments and critiques. Canon Rebel Tsi, 70-200 f/4 lens with 1.4 extender, ISO 100, F8, 1/500, sharpened; about a 20% crop, mostly foliage on either side of pelican and some sky above.
Wendy

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Wendy, I think the foliage works nicely as an image element and it shows the bird in (perhaps) an unexpected environment. There are some very hot pixels on the left side of the head, just behind the eye, otherwise good exposure. The harsh light really didn't help, as the shadow areas are lost in order to protect the whites. The image could be sharper, was this a RAW file? The bird feels tight in the frame to me and its feet are cut off. Always remember to get the feet in the shot! I am guilty of cutting off feet sometimes too, but it does take away from the overall image. Keep them coming, practice is your friend!

[Wendy Kates]

Thanks, Kerry. Actually, I think the feet were hidden by the foliage. It was shot in RAW: I'll run it through the sharpening menu again. Just for my own edification, how can you tell that there are hot pixels on the left side of the head?

[Kerry Perkins]

Thanks, Kerry. Actually, I think the feet were hidden by the foliage. It was shot in RAW: I'll run it through the sharpening menu again. Just for my own edification, how can you tell that there are hot pixels on the left side of the head?

Wendy, please see the sticky post at the top of the forum home page - "are the whites hot?".