color -- then and now Shorebirds and More Birds (Pelicans)

Late summer begins the end of summer season at California's (not

famous) Elk Horn slough, but which travel guru Arthur Frommer rates

as one of the ten most wonderful places for California visitors to

see. Brown pelicans have begun flocking here and the flocking will

continue through September and October -- probably in greater numbers

by far. Your ratings and critiques are invited and most welcome. If

you rate harshly or very critically, please submit a helpful and

constructive comment/Please share your superior photographic

knowledge to help improve my photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

They did pose very nicely for you, almost all in the same direction, so it makes the compo more interesting, and I LOVE pelicans, I only can make pics of them here in Leeuwarden, Holland in the aquazoo, but that is a nice place to go, and they have a beautifull place to live

kind regards Els

Well, they are all standing facing one direction for the same reason that cows and bulls get snow on their rear ends during winter snowstorms -- they are facing away from the wind.

There always are one or two brave ones willing to face the wind -- and it's easier to take off into the wind -- just look at the way airplanes take off -- always into the wind. Even an aircraft carrier involved in taking off and 'recovery' operations will 'turn into the wind' and pump the engines up to flank (fastest) speed so that the combined carrier speed plus the oncoming wind provide extra lift for the aircraft taking off.

I also love pelicans -- they're big, somewhat ungainly and still quite beautiful. We have a surfeit of them in nearby Moss Landing -- no zoos for them here, they just sit on the water, flap their wings a little bit, glide over the water, then 'swoop' - they fill their bill and swallow a fish or two.

They're really quite good feeders for small fish especially, though their huge, stretchable bills will take a good size one too. And no taste, really -- the fish just slides down the gullet with little opportunity for any condiments -- no ketchup, mayonnaise, vinegar, oil, or anything else. Just plain fish for dinner (they must have good hearts and low blood pressure.)

Notice the 'brown' of the capture -- matches the birds, almost exactly. I avoided tampering with it to make the water blue (it isn't normally blue anyway because of nutrients in the water, but not usually 'brown' either -- this color is partially reflected light from a waning sun.

Thanks for the nice comment. I'm always pleased to see you've been poking around here and to find your 'calling card'. (visit card)

John (Crosley)

WELL, Maybe NOW with my new camera I will be able to do it but I don't think I will be very good at it. Not this good.

I am to interested in other things.

This is really interesting how they all bunch in together except for old Johnathan Livington Seagulll.

Very nice.

It reminds me of how I need to pick up that favorite book of mine again!

Just like bulls and cows in snowstorms get snow on their butts, because they turn away from the wind, so these birds are turned away from the wind.

It's just more comfortable that way.

Can't say I ever read about Mr. Seagull; maybe I'll have to look it up.

I'd rather write than read, however.

Nice to see you active and contributing; I always enjoy it.

These birds are 13 minutes from where I stay in California and in a month it will be 'bird festival' time when many, many more of them around. I was out today for about 15 minutes with a great egret, adjusting my exposure (the whites of a great egret will 'blow out' if one uses Nikon Matrix Metering -- use Easy Exposure Adjustment in sunlight to darken the scene by 2/3 to 1 stop, to avoid blowouts on the white feathers. (see, the advice you asked for -- set in a practical way).

Best to you and your new camera.

John (Crosley)