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White Pelican


White Pelican
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-11-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital JPEG
Exposure: f/11, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Soft on the eye images [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-12-15 6:25
Viewed: 4674
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 84
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The day I made this photo the light was very beautiful. So I waited till late in the afternoon and photographed this White Pelican.

The White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus also known as the Eastern White Pelican or Great White Pelican is a bird in the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe through Asia and in Africa in swamps and shallow lakes. The tree nest is a crude heap of vegetation.

This is a large pelican, at a mass of 10 kg, 160 cm long and with a 280 cm wingspan. It differs from the Dalmatian Pelican, the only larger species of pelican, by its pure white, rather than greyish-white, plumage, a bare pink facial patch around the eye and pinkish legs. Males are larger than females, and have a long beak that grows in a downwards arc, as opposed to the shorter, straighter beak of the female. Immature birds are grey and have dark flight feathers.

More than 50% of White Pelicans breed in the Danube Delta. This pelican migrates short distances, wintering in northeast Africa. In flight, it is an elegant soaring bird, with the head held close to and aligned with the body by a downward bend in the neck.
Pelicans catch fish in their huge bill pouches, most, like this species, while swimming at the surface.
Like the Dalmatian Pelican, this species has declined greatly through habitat loss and persecution.

The White Pelican is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Source: Wikipedia
xTauruSx, maurydv, yasemin, Argus, Mello, nasokoun, horias, boreocypriensis, nglen, siggi, CeltickRanger, Dis. Ac., cirano, tcr, jaycee, zulfu, eng55, anel, albert, MMM, anemone, Heaven, Noisette, Miss_Piggy has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Peter, great shot of a white pelican with great details.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

Ciao Peter, fascinating portrait of wonderful pelican, splendid light, beautiful natural colors, amazing details and superb sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Peter,
another fantastic portrait of the White Pelican, very good sharpness with fine detail, splendid delicate colours and superb lighting, i like this close composition
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Hi Peter..Very nice picture of this Pretty and cute huge bird..
I like color and details...TFS.
Regards
Leyla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2009-12-15 6:53]

Hello Peter,
This is a fine close capture of the head of a White Pelican taken with excellent sharpness and lighting against a nice contrasting dark BG.
At first I thought it was the lighting that caused the pink colour of the feathers and bill, but I think it might be the diet of concentrated shrimps containing carotenes. This diet is usually given to captive flamingoes to keep their pink colour. I have also seen some gulls in the wild that have a pinkish winter plumage because their diet has included marine crustatians that might have come from shrimp and prawn waste in rubbish dumps.
Thanks for this interesting posting!
Best wishes,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Mello Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 140 W: 34 N: 480] (2419)
  • [2009-12-15 7:43]

White or Pink? Just kidding MF Peter, but since I only can see pink, I can't believe this one is white...hahaha, because I never see this one on live...
Simply perfect technical details and lovely texture by your right POV and light conditions that you said was waiting....Congratulations and TFS.
See you on TN,
Francisco

hello Peter
as a artistic glance, it is a exceptional work, that offers very good details and splendid attribution of colours!
keep photographing! TFS
Nasos

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 837 W: 58 N: 2084] (11033)
  • [2009-12-15 7:53]

Peter
What a beauty!
Details are amazing, colors are bright!
Warm congratulation!
Horia

Hi Peter
Great shot of this Pelican with nice light and sharpness showing very good detail.
Well done!! TFS
Tom

hallo Peter
Hij is weer goed !!
super scherp en wat je zegt erg mooi licht
je ziet alles
super mooie kleuren
groetjes lou

Hi Peter,

An impressive portrait capture of this pelican beauty from nice lateral POV. Lovely lock of hair:)
The clarity, details and compositioan are all wonderful.
TFS and have a nice day!
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2009-12-15 8:50]

Hola Peter,
estupendo retrato,
efectivo foco y hermoso plumaje,
original bg.
saludos

Hello Peter,

Amazing shot of this White Pelican! The light is wonderful and the details, awesome! The dark blue bg enhances so well the bird. I like also the composition you did with creating this rounded shape.

Excellent work and TFS!

Michel

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 806 W: 0 N: 4092] (22535)
  • [2009-12-15 9:17]

Great work! Very good portrait!

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2009-12-15 10:35]

Hi Peter. This must be one of the best close up picture of a Bird i have seen on TN for a long time. You have used the light to its best to give this warm colour. Such sharp focusing and fine detail. The deep blue of the sky sets it of so well TFS.
Nick..

Ciao Peter. Stunning details here and perfect contrast against deep blue BG. Magnificent sharpened and bright close up. spectacular light's management. Great work MF.

Roberto

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2009-12-15 11:32]

Hello Peter.
Sharp and extremely well exposed. It's difficult to capture all the detail with a subject as light colored as this. The colors on the bill are amazing. Best regards Siggi

hello Peter

a beautiful portrait photo of the White Pelican on his graceful pose,
fine focus excellent sharpness and details, excellent contrast
of the 2 opposite colour tones, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2009-12-15 12:13]

Hi Peter,i like a lot this strange and unusual way to show this pelican,a very artistic and professional work,and what a impressive composition,colors and sharpness at the top.Thanks to show us something new ..the new ideas are always welcome! Have a nice day,Luciano

  • Great 
  • bedri Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 111 W: 0 N: 237] (1284)
  • [2009-12-15 12:38]

Excellent, superb shot Peter. Conratulations..
Best regards,
Bedri..

Hallo Peter,

Zo een met mooi licht genomen en gedetaileerde opname.
Prachtige kleuren en uitstekend van scherpte.

Gert

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 997 W: 0 N: 944] (13609)
  • [2009-12-15 13:48]

Slav Peter,
This is excellent portrait of Pelican,nice colors and great details.TFS.
Regards,
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • tcr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 8 N: 538] (3384)
  • [2009-12-15 15:15]

Great close-up showing fine details and accurate focus. Beautiful composition, light and colour.
Greetings and TFS.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2009-12-15 15:19]

Hi Peter,

A very beautiful and interesting portrait of this White Pelican. The lighting is superb which makes it even more wonderful. I love the pink against the dark blue background. The sharpness is excellent showing off the eye, the feathers, and the intricacies of the beak. Just beautiful.

Jane

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 685 W: 0 N: 2] (43)
  • [2009-12-15 15:24]

Hello Peter,
Great close-up shot of this beauty. Colours, details and
composition are wonderful. I love the light effects on its plummages.
TFS ang G's,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2009-12-15 23:46]

Hi Peter,
What a nice portrait.Details,framing,colors and composition are perfect.It's an artistic work!
Thanks for posting..

great colour and sharpness, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2009-12-16 4:28]

Hello Peter,
Again a "formidable" Pelican-shot. Amaazing colors here created by the late afternoon sun and a very beautiful contrast between the plumage and the blue background. I also like the way you composed your shot. Very well seen and done too.
Kind regards
Anne

Hello Peter,
A great close-up with sharp details ans nice natural colours
TFS
Albert

Hi Peter,
white? This is wonderful rose colour ;-)
The crop here is excellent, the details marvelous. I love it, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1114 W: 0 N: 2546] (11425)
  • [2009-12-16 11:16]

Hi Peter
Beautiful closed up .Very sharp image with fantastic detail.
TFS Michel

Hi Peter.
Excellent close-up capture. Details and composition first class!
TFS.
Kind regards,
Özgür

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 123 N: 2341] (7912)
  • [2009-12-16 13:18]

Hi Peter!

Once again, you present us a marvellous bird portrait. You have the secret of the magic that emanates from your picture. One of the elements to explain this magic certainly is the superb light and lighting. But the great sharpness and the composition also add to the value of the picture. Superb!

Kind regards

Markus

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1053 W: 5 N: 3475] (15161)
  • [2009-12-16 13:28]

Merhaba Peter,
harika detaylar !
renkler ve netlik de çok şahane.
Tebrik ederim.

Hello Peter
beautiful portrait odf this White Pelican, wunderful sharp details and great lighting, i like the position of his head and the contrast with the blue BG
thanks for sharing and have a good night
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 957 W: 0 N: 1329] (6264)
  • [2009-12-16 13:41]

Hi Peter,
Fantastic macro. Details en mooie kleuren!
Uitzonderlijke en beschrijving voorzien.
Een rustige avond
Adrian

Precioso trabajo con la luz y el color y unos cortes muy bien aplicados.
Saldudos peter: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2009-12-17 9:23]

Oh Peter - awesome image!!
Beautifully captured, the focus is spot on and all it feathers and details show up so well. And what a lovely colour he is too,
TFS
Janice

Hi Peter

Wow.... what a striking portrait shot! Lovely composition. Congrats!

Hallo Peter
What a delicate image, with a soft touch to it. The ideal picture for a little girl's bedroom wall. It has an indescribable softness and feeling of comfort that surrounds it. The texture of the feathers in the neck (I almost said fur), reminds me of the fabric they use to make soft toys like teddy bears. It is an absolutely wonderful portrait that is soft on the eye. You are really very good at bird photography, and I am glad you share your expertise with us. I was just wondering how come they call it a White Pelican but it has the most beautiful pink colouring in its feathers? Thanks for sharing this lovely "pose" in pink. Kind regards.
Anna

Nice shot. I like the colours, and even more the elegant curves. Good details and sharpness too. However, I would have liked to see more of the beak, but none the less it is an excellent photograph! Thanks for sharing.

Hey Peter,
You are a professional, a true one and the photo proves it without any doubt.
It`s a rare opportunity for me to see such a high quality photo, on this website included.
My congratulations!
Nelu

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