Dorian Anderson
Well-known member
Though large compared to most birds, the Yellow-nosed is the smallest of the world's albatrosses. The gleaming white head suggests this is the Indian Ocean subspecies.
The Atlantic subspecies has a grayer head and makes occasional appearances in the NE US, where it has been viewed from pelagic trips and shore.
This frame was captured on a pelagic trip out of Cape Town. The boat was very small -- 8 people -- and rough sees tossed the tiny craft way more they would the 30-50
person fishing boats we use for similar trips in the US. Shooting was difficult, if not dangerous, and I clipped more wings on this trip that I had in my life to this point.
All that's to say this is one of the few keepers I got in tough conditions. Light was a bit steep when we encountered this bird, but I'll take it.
I think the small droplets at the bottom of the frame are from a surfacing dolphin feeding below the bird.
Woulda liked a bit more head turn, but so be it......
Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS II on EOS R5
1/8000 at f/5.6, ISO 1000 - This is another frame where I was shooting very dark White-chinned Petrels a moment before this bird flew into view. Couldn't shift the ISO, but was able to drop the shutter.
Processed in LR CC and Topaz ND
The Atlantic subspecies has a grayer head and makes occasional appearances in the NE US, where it has been viewed from pelagic trips and shore.
This frame was captured on a pelagic trip out of Cape Town. The boat was very small -- 8 people -- and rough sees tossed the tiny craft way more they would the 30-50
person fishing boats we use for similar trips in the US. Shooting was difficult, if not dangerous, and I clipped more wings on this trip that I had in my life to this point.
All that's to say this is one of the few keepers I got in tough conditions. Light was a bit steep when we encountered this bird, but I'll take it.
I think the small droplets at the bottom of the frame are from a surfacing dolphin feeding below the bird.
Woulda liked a bit more head turn, but so be it......
Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 IS II on EOS R5
1/8000 at f/5.6, ISO 1000 - This is another frame where I was shooting very dark White-chinned Petrels a moment before this bird flew into view. Couldn't shift the ISO, but was able to drop the shutter.
Processed in LR CC and Topaz ND

- Canon EOS R5
- EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
- ƒ/5.6
- 164mm
- 1/8000s
- ISO 1000
- dorian anderson
- Sun, 31 July 2022 12:28 AM
- dorian anderson
- Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 9.4 (Macintosh)