After waiting several days for the sun to shine, our window of opportunity finally arrived: New Year's Eve day. So Double D drove me to my favorite spot in Madisonville, LA. I had hoped the morning light was going to be behind me, bathing the pelicans in light, but no such luck. Whether I had gone in the afternoon or morning didn't matter, since the sun was positioned on the sides of the water. I photographed from every angle imaginable, fiddled with my camera settings, and still, I could not expose the pelicans properly. Just when I thought I might have it figured out, we got run off by the cops, because apparently they are still working on the sea wall. Drats.
I worked with these shots in Lightroom and PS for a long while, finally losing perspective and patience. After two days, pulling every trick I knew, I summoned Double D and asked him to be totally honest and tell me which ones he liked. These are Double D's picks. :)
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| We were both on the fence about this shot since the bokeh is so overwhelming. Although distracting, we thought it was a cool pic. |
I will finish making blog rounds this week. Y'all have a good'n, and thanks for stopping by!
Check out other birds
around the world at
Anni's Bird D'pot!
Check out other birds
around the world at
Anni's Bird D'pot!
63 comments:
Awesome collection of shots! Double D has good tastes!
What stunning shots of an amazing bird! Each one so crisp and sharp and that booked is fabulous - I love every bit of it!
Oh wow, each photo is awesome.. What a great series on the Pelicans, well done!
Have a happy Monday!
Amazing! Lovin that second shot.
Hello Gail,
What a great series of pelicans.
Photo 2,6 and 7 are my favorite.
Photo 2 and 6 make me laugh.
A happy and healthy 2015 I wish you and all your loved ones.
Best regards, Irma
Sorry, I was with your name confused.
I deleted that message.
WOW Pelicans are such amazing looking birds , rather prehistoric looking really . Really great, totally remarkable shots of them Gail.
Hello dear Gai and Happy New Year! It's so nice to come by for a visit and see your beautiful pictures - that second one is quite amazing.
The picture of the three of them together reminded me of a Barbar Shop group of singers :)
Have a wonderful Monday! Hugs!
I have been under the weather this weekend, and wiped out. With me, tho, no company.
These pelican shots are incredible Gail!!
Thanks for sharing the link at I'd Rather B Birdin' too.
Wow - gorgeous shots and bokeh!
Great shots! It looks like they are just gabbing away in that one shot.
1,000% approval! Pelicans are my FAVORITE bird and you have captured them to the fullest views possible. Wonderful!!!!!
wonderful bokeh and interesting poses! the last one is spectacular!
Oh my gosh these are fabulous it's like a showing off just for you to catch and share with us! So cool!
Super wat is dit mooi .wat een prachtige actie foto,s heb je hier van kunnen maken.
Wonderful collection. You know how to shoot them and Double D knows how to pick them. I especially love the one looking up and the one coming in for a landing. Great eye candy. Happy New Year, Gail. :)
You're Back!
Yeah!
Number 5 made be laugh out loud...really.
Loved them all.
Nobody does it better! Truly awesome shots. Reminds me of being surrounded by the law as I tried to shoot wild turkey and deer near (actually on) federal prison land! (When he told me where I was, I told him I wasn't trying to get a date, just wanted to photograph the deer that my friends had seen at dusk.
I think they are all fantastic and I LOVE the sparkling background in the first shot.
Picky picky! They are great photos. They are funny and the first one is a woek of art. DD has a good eye.
Wow, this is wonderful.
Amazing photos.
You have done a great job with these photos whether it be from the camera or post processing, they are wonderful pictures. Good choice Double D
Those turned out pretty great! He chose some nice ones! I love the second and last ones and the bokeh is beautiful! Sometimes ya just gotta work with what you're given.
Your bad shots are better than my good ones!
Excellent photos. The Brown Pelican looks even more comical than the white one does.We only see the White Pelicans around here.
All great photos. You really captured their personality. I think the light looks great.
Double D did an awesome job in selecting these awesome photos. Of course, I know that it was not a hard job...because All of your photos are Always Awesome!! These Pelicans seemed to be enjoying the attention. They were perfect models...
It's cold here....with more to come!!
hugs,
shug
I think the bokeh is pretty amazing! And it's a showy background for the show-off pelican! I think those are Brown Pelicans? I just watched a piece of Oregon's PBS station about the increasing number of Brown Pelicans that stay on the Oregon Coast...each year, they stay longer, for some reason, and many suffered frostbite two years ago when there was actual winter on the beach. Seems the researcher said that 30 years ago, there were 5000 pelicans and her last count was something like at least 5 times that number....wish I could remember exactly. Your pelicans are such showoffs...and beautifully photographed.
It shocks me that a Double D could be a him ... and I will leave my thoughts right there.
He did pick out some grand photos, especially the second and the last for me.
I know that you already know this, but as for your dissatisfaction, as good as cameras get, they still don't have the dynamic range of our eyes, and do consider that yours likely does much better than most -- like mine. :)
wow, what an exquisite series of photos, gail!! excellent shots, loved them all.
big hugs~
O, I know, sometimes luck isn't on your side with the light, sun, position and so on. But all your frustration and effort is worthwhile, I love your pics, Gail. I love pelicans too. I have seen them several times in Florida. Too bad we don't have them in the Netherlands. I wish you a great 2015 with a lot of photogenic moments. Greetings, Joke
These are all amazing! Also I want to move my neck like that Pelican in the 2nd shot.
Happy New Year!
Those are great pelican portraits! From every wonderful angle. They are the most amazing bird ... I never tire of seeing them.
If I were FORCED to pick a favorite, I'd pick the second one. We are hoping to head to Florida this Feb. Just not to be wearing snow pants would be nice. Your photography is just wonderful!
These are all fabulous photos! The pelicans are very interesting birds.
Great photos, all of them! And I didn't know Pelicans had such serious faces.
I love all of these!
It has been far too long since I took a moment to go through your blog.
Sigh. Such peace each and every time I gaze upon your photos. My favorites: the hawk. OH MY!! My family has had the fantastic privilege of having a personal show with these beautiful birds and each and every one of us got to hold the bird (either on our hand, while feeding or on our heads). Your photos captured the magnificent beauty of these birds of prey
what a wonderful series gail, double d did good!! I can't pick a favorite, they are all my favorites!!
they are great close-ups offering so much detail, I thought number 2 was interesting, to say the least!!!!
hello sweetie :)
nice post!, great pics so inspiring . . .
love design of your blog ... like everything!
Tell me how about follow each other?
Let me know please, I always follow back :)
Have an inspiring day :**
keep in touch
xoxo
www.thegrisgirl.blogspot.com.es
Great picks, but I'm sure you had tons to choose from. Love that one looking up . . . but it makes my neck hurt. lol
Double D did a great job Gail as did you!
Your photos are so sharp, each one is so good that when I thought I had a fav, the next one was even better! Thank you for hosting, I am new to this meme, thought I`d chip in,phyllis from Pa.
Really great this Pelican. What did one beautiful and sharp pictures you make them know. Your bird photos are always so beautiful. A very big compliment for this series.
Greetings, Helma
Double D made great choices! I think you've captured well ho agile pelicans are!
Such an amazing series! Like they are posing for you .... so great!!! Love them all!
The bokeh is beautiful, but I love the expressions on their faces in those last shots!!
Love the shots! Even if the light wasn't cooperating, they are great!
Wow, these are all gorgeous, Gail!! I have a love affair with bokeh, so in my book there is no such thing as too much! That last photo is so beautiful too…I love how he looks like he's posing :)
Whoa! Incredible shots!
Hello Gail!:) All your pelican shots are amazing.You did a good job of capturing these engaging birds.
Thank you for your last visit and your caring comment Gail, and have a great New Year.
Warm Regards.
these are beyond amazing!!! seriously, i can only hope to shoot something like this someday and as well as you what you have captured!!!
Wow Gail, these are some wonderful shots to start off the new year with :)
AWESOME shots!
Awesome pictures Gail, beautiful.
Beautiful photos. Regards.
Dearest Gail; What gorgeous photographs of pelican♡♡♡ We have different kind in our city park and I LOVE them. Nice choices♪
Hope you had good head start of 2015 and doing well dear friend
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*
A great photo start to the New Year, Gail, even if you did get fun off by the police. You did get some great shots of a fascinating group of birds.
My jaw just keep dropping as I scroll. Amazing captures but also your editing is just breath taking! I really enjoyed viewing each one!
Oh goodness...I absolutely L O V E these!!! These are captured so beautifully! The brown pelican is truly a stunning bird
As always your images are spectacular, you know I love em! I'm happy to hear your steppin' out a bit more, yay you! Happy New year Gail
Fun shots!!! Double D has good taste!
Looks like a few of those pelicans ate more than they could swallow!!
Doctored or not, your photography has advanced from awesome to awesomer (how is that grammatical sacrilege from a former English teacher).
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