Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
White pelicans are fairly common along parts of the Great Lakes’ shoreline. While at Magee Marsh, I found these three white pelicans paddling along the mouth of Crane Creek. The colors of the pouch and tufts of feathers on the heads gives them a lot of character. I used some fill flash and a final curves adjustment which provided some added punch to the whites and darkened the water slightly.
Specific Feedback
I took 100’s of photos of these guys, but liked the overall arrangement of the trio in this frame. I left more room on the bottom side to preserve the broken white reflection in the water. How do you like the comp?
Technical Details
Z9 180-400mm with 1.4TC engaged at 500mm (1/5000 sec at f11, ISO 1250) DeNoise, Crop for Comp, Highlight negative adjustment, Slight adjustment of curves for punch…Jim
I like the comp, Jim. These are large birds and I like them having room to move in. I agree with you that the poses of the three works well. Whites look good. I envy your proximity to Magee Marsh. Was there once and it isn’t an easy place to reach from the west coast. Traveling from ORY-GUN to ORA-GONE is a bit of a hassle.
Hi Jim
You did a great job on the White Pelicans. Only a nature photographer would understand the dedication it takes to get a great photograph. Very nice.
Peter
Very nicely done, Jim. We don’t get the white ones locally, though there are some colonies in Eastern Washington. The trio arrangement works very well as a composition.
Nicely done Jim. I also like the composition of the three and techs look spot on.
Thank you @Allen_Sparks , @Allen_Brooks , @Peter_Morrissey , and @Dennis_Plank for your critiques and comments. @Allen_Brooks , Magee Marsh is so crowded that I missed a lot of shots due to being hemmed in by 100’s of birders. In the early 80’s at most 10 to 20 people were on the boardwalk at once versus now, where there’s more people than birds. Bird numbers are way down and it is evident when I compare numbers of warblers from previous visits with the present. At least white pelicans are now a common breeding species in the nearby marshes.
