Pelican - close up

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Steve Kaluski

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Sunday was a cold, crisp bright morning so we thought we might have a walk around St Jame's Park a few miles away from where we live. For those of you 'across the pond' it's a bit like Central Park I guess, but the Park here, backs onto Buckingham Palace.

The Park has all the normal bird life there as it has a large lake like so many in London, but only here does it have 'resident' Pelicans, six I think that frequent the Park, no idea how they got here, or what they feed on, but have been here for some time.

Obviously they command an audience whilst walking along the foot paths and hopping onto the park benches and enjoy, to a degree. their photos taken I guess, but why folk have to get so close is beyond me, these are WILD birds. As the surrounding congregation swelled in numbers, casting shadows in the bright light was an issue, plus they kept moving because of the close proximity of folk with iPhones, encroaching on their comfort zone, albeit if they got too close the Pelican would make it known, so close up were the order of the day. Should have swopped to the R5MK2!!!

Subject: Pelican close-up
Camera: Canon EOS R1
Lens: RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS II USM
Exposure: 1/2000 at f/11 ISO800 (no need for any NR)
Original format: Landscape, FF width, cropped a little off the top
 
Can’t see why you are puzzled Jon, you have already answered it. With truck loads of folk around the subjects, messy BKGs, all that is left is to shoot tight in and go for texture & detail.
 
You've rendered those details beautifully, Steve.
I have always been a great fan of close ups...so this is my cuppa! Nice thinking behind the image, you always make the best of every opportunity.
Superb colours and textures and the eye draws me in. Love the light and those shadows, composition works well, just awesome!

Warmest regards,
Gabriela
 
A bit quick on the reply, just happened to be on-line.

Thanks for the reply and yes, it might a 'marmite' image, but perhaps more in the footsteps of the late Joe P. I just think you have to work with what you have got and how its presented to you, I just loved the soft pink plumage, juxtapose to the very weathered, chipped, splintered bill and 'coral like' gullet. A bit of a busy top, nothing I could do, just darkened slightly and desaturated so it wouldn't conflict as much IMHO. Anyway, worth a punt.

Great to hear all the new kit and monitors have finally arrived, just take your time in the set up, but you know where we both are if you need help etc. You will love the monitors and speed of things and get to see what those Z9's can truely can deliver, soon you will be all set and then it will be KTP time. :)
 
A bit quick on the reply, just happened to be on-line.

Thanks for the reply and yes, it might a 'marmite' image, but perhaps more in the footsteps of the late Joe P. I just think you have to work with what you have got and how its presented to you, I just loved the soft pink plumage, juxtapose to the very weathered, chipped, splintered bill and 'coral like' gullet. A bit of a busy top, nothing I could do, just darkened slightly and desaturated so it wouldn't conflict as much IMHO. Anyway, worth a punt.

Great to hear all the new kit and monitors have finally arrived, just take your time in the set up, but you know where we both are if you need help etc. You will love the monitors and speed of things and get to see what those Z9's can truely can deliver, soon you will be all set and then it will be KTP time. :)
I really liked this image, Steve. No 'marmite' for me:)

And the new kit is here...yes, pretty exciting albeit ( yes, 'albeit" !) still waiting for a few bits and bobs. Oh and you'll both have to be around when I set things up, LOL. I will need all the help I can get😆
 
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I'm liking this one Steve. The side light gives lovely contrast for the details. The light and shade is great.
This fellow is a bit more pink than any of the Pelicans I have photographed, but then I'm not often called upon to photograph royalty!

LOL Gerald, very good. :D

The Reds in the original Raw were very strong, part of Canons heritage, so perhaps the 'pinks' are more based on a 'preferred' basis?

As I said, it's more of a grab shot based on the incumbent factors, so I was happy what depth of detail was achieved, but if I had swopped to the R52 then 'Oh là là...'

Cheers
Steve
 
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Had you considered going in real close to emphasize the eyes and face?

Cheers Dave, in all honesty I wasn't really thinking about much, as it was just a series of grab shots, as last month both Canon & Nikon suffered in the snow with resolution, we know why, but..., so I just wanted to check.

As I mentioned earlier, I should have popped the R52 with greater pixels, but in the heat of the moment didn't so it would have given better crop options with hindsight.

How about this?
 
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There are so many options if you go this route Dave, but tighter, however distracting backgrounds is a key factor and to avoid at all costs I think, otherwise stark BKG are less than sympathetic to mask these issues?????
 

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