Pied Cormorants

[FootLoose]

I always think these birds look so pathetic in the colder months, trying to dry their feathers in the weak winter sun.



But they are kind of cute when they are dried and fluffy.




Comments and criticism welcome.

[Kodiak]

Hey Greg,

I like the second shot. In both, though, you have achieved a splendid rendition!

[deetheturk]

Very nice Greg, I can see what you mean in #2, very pretty bird

[chauncey]

Both are great shots Greg, but...we all have our good and bad hair days. Say "Photoshop" as a cure.

[John 2]

I always think these birds look so pathetic in the colder months, trying to dry their feathers in the weak winter sun............

Just think what their European cousins go through in the winter. Probably why ours are all black - max heat absorbsion.. A couple of nice shots Greg. Never seen the Pied version before.

[Bobobird]

Nice shots. The sheen on feathers in #1 is well done.

[bnnrcn]

I like the shots very much Greg. I think the blue part in #1 is a bit distracting but desaturating it with PP might help anyway. I love the posture in #1. I like evrything in #2

[Brownbear]

Beautiful images. For me #2 is especially exquisite, beautifully photographed with a gorgeous background - and a special moment. Looks kind of sad to me, like he/she is perched on the edge of a cliff looking out at the world.

[IzzieK]

Greg...I like #1 best. I have not seen this one drying itself on a weak sun at all...For me it is an unusual post...So this is how they do it...hmmm...I think this shot will be better if you blur up some more of the background a bit so the bluish bit at the neck will be pronounced, what to do think?

[Shadowman]

Nice captures, the 1st has a more dramatic pose and yes the second looks a bit more elegant.

[FootLoose]

Daniel, David, William, John, Bob, Binnur, Christina, Izzie and John thank you all for viewing and commenting.

The blue in the background of the first shot is the sea, and the blue in the background of the second is the sky. But there shouldn't be any blue under the neck (well spotted, Izzie), that area in the photo is just shadow. So I have tried to tone the blues down a bit with the Hue slider.

What struck me about the first image was the display of feathers: the several different shapes and lengths. It is rare for me to get this close to one of these birds. But, that said, the right wing reminds me of Batman for some reason (lol)

[terrib]

What struck me about the first image was the display of feathers: the several different shapes and lengths. It is rare for me to get this close to one of these birds. [/IMG]

That was my first thought. I don't think I've ever been that close to a Cormorant. Beautiful detail in the feathers. And great job on the exposure with the contrasting black and white.

[Bobobird]

I was going to say beautiful detail in the feathers and great job on the exposure until I read Terri's post. LOL

[bnnrcn]

Edit looks better Greg

[IzzieK]

Greg...I know this might be a hard ask, but have you tried converting this to black and white and toning it down so it might look better or this will not be a good candidate? Just asking...???

[Stagecoach]

Two beautifully captured birds Greg.

Agree with others regarding the feather arrangement, a wonderful diagram of feather engineering

[FootLoose]

Terri, Bobo, Binnur, Grahame, thanks for commenting.

Izzie, B&W is not something I would have thought about for this shot because of the gradations of black/brown in the wings, and because the background is also brown so there is not a great deal of tonal variation. But just out of curiosity:

[IzzieK]

Out of curiousity too I tried to lighten your shot and convert it to B/W -- there is still something some info there to translate it so but it wasn't too good ... I was just curious...thanks for indulging my whims. It is not an everyday thing that I ask.