Pelican dip

ASkipASkip Registered Users Posts: 224 Major grins
edited October 15, 2008 in Wildlife
I don't usually take bird pictures, but I have been taking pictures of surfers for a few year and watching the pelicans skimming the water, I always wondered if they ever made a mistake and dipped their wings in the waves.
This is the first time I've seen one nick the surface of the water; from this morning... Does it happen often?
393443872_6KsNh-M.jpg
Surf: http://ascip.smugmug.com/
Land sports: http://scippix.smugmug.com/

Comments

  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 13, 2008
    not that often --but it does add an element to the shot eek7.gif and to the better thumb.gif nice one
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 14, 2008
    It happens every once in awhile and if you're preapred you get a wonderful capture as you have demonstrated. thumb.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited October 14, 2008
    Pelicans will fly very closely to the surface but I personally have never captured anything like this. This is a quite good image. The wing gently touching the water makes this even better.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • CatoCato Registered Users Posts: 287 Major grins
    edited October 14, 2008
    That's a wonderful shot!!! Would love to see it larger... :D
    http://catographer.smugmug.com/

    Shooter on a shoestring.
  • slrshooterslrshooter Registered Users Posts: 15 Big grins
    edited October 15, 2008
    Pelicans do fly very low to the water and must pick up what is called "ground effect" which makes it very easy on them without flapping their wings. Planes have this same effect when they try to land. Catching their wing in the water is one of the attractions of shooting pelicans.
    Norm (SLRShooter)
    Nikon shooter since 1965
  • ASkipASkip Registered Users Posts: 224 Major grins
    edited October 15, 2008
    Cato wrote:
    That's a wonderful shot!!! Would love to see it larger... :D
    Hi,
    thanks everyone for the nice and educational(!) comments.
    Here's where the picture lives in the gallery:
    http://ascip.smugmug.com/gallery/6233140_YDgia#393443872_6KsNh
    if you really want to see it bigger.

    I'll have to keep my eyes on the pelicans.
    thanks!
    Surf: http://ascip.smugmug.com/
    Land sports: http://scippix.smugmug.com/
Sign In or Register to comment.