Landing gear down flaps up

A brown pelican coming in for a landing on the Southern California coast.

Specific Feedback Requested

This is actually a composite as I clipped part of the wingtip. Reconstructed in Photoshop. Might be better if the feet were a little sharper.

Technical Details

Is this a composite: Yes
ISO 500, 400+ 2X, F5 .6, 2000th, handheld, full frame cropped to panorama view

Very nice getting the pelican coming at you. Good job with the composite.

Very cool, David. I love the pose and it gives an excellent view of the eye-something I’ve always found very difficult in this species. Great job on the wing tips. if you hadn’t mentioned it, I’d never have noticed how very symmetrical they are.

Excellent reconstructive surgery! I love the splay-footed pose and the intent look. It’s some added interest that it is looking just a bit to one side.

Love the pose and the water. And, yes, really nice job on the wing. I do agree that the bird could be a bit sharper. It looks like critical focus might have been on the tip of the beak? Btw, you shoot a 400mm f/2.8 for this one?