# Pelican flight **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** birds\ **Created:** [December 23, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150 "2025-12-23T00:45:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_Peters](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/don_peters/32/87970_2.png) [@Don\_Peters](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Don_Peters)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/1 "2025-12-23T00:45:40Z")
![Pelican flight c-2.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/b/7/b7b6982c66166795ba7d902242ebf47d3bba21c2.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_ > > The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image. ### Description I was trying to get some bird photos at sunrise. This pelican obliged me by taking to the air. ### Specific Feedback All comments are welcome. As is often the case, I spent more time processing the background than the subject. ### Technical Details ISO 640, 400mm, f/8. 1/2500th sec. * * * ### Critique Template Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas. Vision and Purpose: Conceptual: Emotional Impact and Mood: Composition: Balance and Visual Weight: Depth and Dimension: Color: Lighting: Processing: Technical: ---
**Author:** ![David\_Schoen](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/david_schoen/32/368_2.png) [@David\_Schoen](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/David_Schoen)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 3:15am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/2 "2025-12-23T03:15:01Z")
Excellent shot of the pelican. Really pleasing light. Crop is a little off and can use some more room. But I like the idea. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Peters](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/don_peters/32/87970_2.png) [@Don\_Peters](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Don_Peters)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/3 "2025-12-23T13:25:03Z")
Thanks, David. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/4 "2025-12-23T16:03:15Z")
Excellent job on the focus and depth of field, Don. I too like the lighting. For a flight shot, particularly going across in front of you, it is rather crowded in the frame, making the bird feel rather cramped. If this is full frame, a lot could be done with matting if you decide to print it to relieve that feeling. If you wanted and dislike using AI, a virtual matte would be an option. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Peters](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/don_peters/32/87970_2.png) [@Don\_Peters](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Don_Peters)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/5 "2025-12-23T16:15:58Z")
Thanks for the comment, Dennis. This isn’t full-frame and I don’t understand matting or virtual matting, but I’ll look them up. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Zimic](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/steve_zimic/32/51879_2.png) [@Steve\_Zimic](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Zimic)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/6 "2025-12-23T18:32:04Z")
Great capture Don. Love the way the lighting is creating a gleam in the eye. The water drops coming off the legs add to the moment. As others have mentioned, the crop is a bit tight. If you’re using Photoshop, generative expand while cropping is a good way to add more canvas. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Lockhart](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jim_lockhart/32/16565_2.png) [@Jim\_Lockhart](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jim_Lockhart)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/7 "2025-12-24T01:55:50Z")
I too am enjoying the special light you captured Don. Really nice detail throughout and the tiny water droplets hint at where he just came from. It was worth getting up for the sunrise 😄! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Peters](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/don_peters/32/87970_2.png) [@Don\_Peters](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Don_Peters)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 2:42am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/8 "2025-12-24T02:42:06Z")
Steve, Jim, thanks. I agree that the original framing was too tight and I decided to use generative expand, as Steve suggested, to add some space. ![Pelican flight c2r-2](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/0/a/0aed3326941f51ef6c98da49fe8fb62a7ab275fb.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 3:40am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/9 "2025-12-24T03:40:50Z")
Don: As one who generally tries to fill the frame (old habit from slide days) the original looked pretty darn good to me but I see what the more experienced birders are saying and the repost is better. The light is what really caught my attention as well as the DOF management. Really well done. \>=))\> ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Douglass](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dave_douglass/32/5332_2.png) [@Dave\_Douglass](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dave_Douglass)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 3:57am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/10 "2025-12-24T03:57:38Z")
Yes. Giving it some more room to fly into really sets off this magnificent capture. Love it. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 12:31pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/11 "2025-12-24T12:31:42Z")
A nice job on the repost, Don. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Peters](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/don_peters/32/87970_2.png) [@Don\_Peters](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Don_Peters)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 1:18pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/12 "2025-12-24T13:18:12Z")
Thanks for all the comments and the assistance. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Schoen](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/david_schoen/32/368_2.png) [@David\_Schoen](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/David_Schoen)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/13 "2025-12-24T19:13:59Z")
Excellent job on the repost. Now the bird has a place to fly into and it looks a lot more balanced. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morrissey](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/peter_morrissey/32/683_2.png) [@Peter\_Morrissey](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Peter_Morrissey)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pelican-flight/49150/14 "2025-12-28T14:20:02Z")
HI Don You had me with photographing Pelicans. You did a great job with the whites and blacks. The eye contact and lighting really sell the photograph. The repost looks good. Peter