Hungry Pelican

[Kaye]

I have attached a few shots I took of a Pelican who lives on a river in Sydney where people like to fish. It was around 5.30pm and nearly dark.
These were all shot with my 18-105mm at f/5.6 at 105mm.

Firstly we have the hungry Pelican on land looking out for food: (not wonderful composition as his bill is soooo long... and the second I aimed for a closer view of his head).

I think these two look better enlarged when you click on them twice. Shutter speed: 1/80sec
15821 15822

Next, the contented Pelican: Shutter speed 1/13sec

15823

And lastly, the shots that I would love to have captured with some sharpness, but was unaware that a fisherman was going to throw some fish to the Pelican in the water, and having no time to alter my settings, I shot anyway with bad light and low shutter speed. I caught the right moment, but with poor quality. I sort of liked them anyway.
Shutter speed: 1/20sec

15824 15825

[eyerkish]

Nice series, Kaye. I like that you have shown a bit of his/her personality with the shots. I really like the action shots in #4 and #5 but I think I like #2 the best. The composition is very good, the clarity is fantastic, and the lighting is a bit more evenly balanced than #1. I'm hoping to get out this weekend and shoot a few pelicans myself.

[Kaye]

Nice series, Kaye. I like that you have shown a bit of his/her personality with the shots. I really like the action shots in #4 and #5 but I think I like #2 the best. The composition is very good, the clarity is fantastic, and the lighting is a bit more evenly balanced than #1. I'm hoping to get out this weekend and shoot a few pelicans myself.

Thanks Eddie, I really appreciate your feedback here.
I probably should not have posted the actions shots as it was too dark to achieve anything good with a 1/20sec shutter... I just liked that my timing was OK with the fish :)

I am so glad you like No. 2. This has more natural colour I think. (No. 1 was taken with flash but all others NO flash).
The second was also my favourite for the clarity and detail (but I still want to improve). I have got to get out earlier and find these animals when there is plenty of light. We find Pelicans here mostly up the top of light poles :D
I look forward to your Pelican shots if you find some.

[eyerkish]

Thanks Eddie, I really appreciate your feedback here.
I probably should not have posted the actions shots as it was too dark to achieve anything good with a 1/20sec shutter... I just liked that my timing was OK with the fish :)

I am so glad you like No. 2. This has more natural colour I think. (No. 1 was taken with flash but all others NO flash).
The second was also my favourite for the clarity and detail (but I still want to improve). I have got to get out earlier and find these animals when there is plenty of light. We find Pelicans here mostly up the top of light poles :D
I look forward to your Pelican shots if you find some.

I have a few I took during a recent whale watching cruise, but I am hoping to improve upon them. I will post them in a new thread but I reserve the right to replace them with better quality shots. : )

[Kaye]

I have a few I took during a recent whale watching cruise, but I am hoping to improve upon them. I will post them in a new thread but I reserve the right to replace them with better quality shots. : )

Eddie, I have viewed your pelican shots and love them. I too am hoping to improve upon what I posted above, but until I find more Pelicans to shoot, I have done another quick edit on my first two shots as I thought they looked a bit dull and gloomy when I looked again!
As you liked No. 2, I hope that I have improved it a little.

All other CC welcome on these also.



15829 15830

[sandrac]

Ilike the first towo the best but three has some interest just wish there was more behind his tail
Iamready to go use my camera again

but I have beewn letting life get in the way
I got so far behind at work ad onbb my chore during the months of May June andJuly
but..................
I turnedin my potrait assignment made an 100
so now ready to move on
keep up the good work Kaye
( :

[mdonahoe1]

Kate, another great series! the first is a beautiful pelican portrait, and I also love the action shot of the fourth. 2,3 and 5 are also fantastic.

[mingkywingky]

Lovely series Kaye. My favorite is #3, for the composition, and it looks artistic to me.

[Kaye]

Ilike the first towo the best but three has some interest just wish there was more behind his tail
Iamready to go use my camera again

but I have beewn letting life get in the way
I got so far behind at work ad onbb my chore during the months of May June andJuly
but..................
I turnedin my potrait assignment made an 100
so now ready to move on
keep up the good work Kaye
( :

Thank you so much Sandra for viewing these and for taking the time to comment. I am so glad you are feeling better and ready to get back to shooting.
I am often behind in my work too, as I spend too much time on the PC, either learning or editing images.
CONGRATULATIONS on the perfect score for your portrait assignment... it was a beautiful shot.

I hesitated to post 3, 4 & 5. I am glad you sort of liked No. 3, but with the lack of light and my really slow shutter speed of 1/13sec, and my focus on his eye/head, the tail had to miss out :D
Thanks again Sandra, and I look forward to more of your new work soon.



Kate, another great series! the first is a beautiful pelican portrait, and I also love the action shot of the fourth. 2,3 and 5 are also fantastic.

Many thanks Marianne for your kind comments. The last 3 shots were so rushed... I guess I would have got more sharpness had I set up for flash on these with a faster shutter had I had the time :mad:


Lovely series Kaye. My favorite is #3, for the composition, and it looks artistic to me.

Tenny, I really appreciate your comment thank you. I sort of also felt it had an 'arty' feel, but also know the quality is not wonderful, but I enjoyed shooting these. I need lots more practice and should not attempt to try action shots on the spur of the moment when nearly dark without time to think more about my settings and readjust.