Pelican Rock

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
1

Pelican Rock.jpg
Pelican Rock.jpg2000×2000 111 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

As I was photographing the ocean waves along the Oregon coast, I noticed a group of Pelicans flying over and landing on a large rock to my right. They were silhouetted by the lowering sun beyond the rock, so I decided to take a break from the waves and photograph the birds. By exposing for the highlights in this image I was able to capture a few of the Pelicans in pure black with no details other than their bodily shapes. I love how one of the birds has its head craned straight up looking at the two flying above. I decide to do a square crop on this image as the original raw file had several more birds in it. I thought this gave more of an emphasis on the few Pelicans that I found most interesting. I also adjusted the blacks and whites in this image to give it more contrast.

Technical Details

Screenshot (19)

Processed in Lightroom with cropping and adjustments for increased contrast.

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2

Very nice!! I love the composition with the well-defined and varied shapes. It would be easy for something like this to feel too chaotic but you have captured and selected a good arrangement that shows a variety of action without feeling too crazy.

3

I like the various poses of the pelicans in this one Ted, especially the one that looks like it is snapping at those flying overhead. Great silhouette. It makes me think of old time movies for some reason.

4

Way to Cool. Great Image !!!

5

Thanks for your feedback Diane. I felt that cropping to exclude more of the Pelicans worked to simplify the image.

6

Thank you very much.

7

Thanks Ed. I liked how that one Pelican looking straight up really worked here.