"A Penguin" Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

After shooting this, we decided to adjourn to the beachside cafe for coffee. As we walked and chat about the subject, one of the TE member keeps referring(inadvertently?) to this creature as a penguin. As a result, I am now convinced that it is a penguin. Afterall, he must have seen this countless number of times over the last 50+ years that he resides here. He must be right;))

In the workshop is a close-up version.

The location is Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary which is a 115-hectare sanctuary located off Beaumaris in Melbourne's southeast. The series of sandstone rock platforms extending from the shore create a diverse marine environment that is readily accessible to visitors. The high diversity of marine habitats within a small area provides a fantastic opportunity for scientific research, education, and also photography for those who are interested in marine wildlife.

phwall, macondo, jusninasirun, patdeph, axiotea, cherryripe, jhm, adores trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

sacimar (7536) 2009-11-01 9:39

Hi Alfred,

good "penquin" picture, I like the composition with the background blurred, the bird seems to be modeling for you, nice job,

Best regards

Sergio

delpeoples (6439) 2009-11-01 13:51

Hi Alfred, perhaps it is the competitive nature of amnkind, but your outings with Santo and Bill have really brought out your best. This simple, yet superbly composed photo is wonderful. You really know how to work that camera. I like the different layers of colour here all combining to enhance the sharpness and life of the pelican. Vertical frame suits the image to a T. Excellent work, TFS, Lisa.

phwall (5691) 2009-11-01 17:43

Hi Alfred,
Yep, that's a penguin for sure, everyone knows that. He may be a little different to the normal variety but I'd take Santo's word for it anyday.
DOF is really good, the focus point sits well with the soft foreground and background.
You sure it was only coffee.
Have a good week my friend.
Regards
Peter

skippy007 (7243) 2009-11-01 19:25

Hello Alfred, I'm the last person that needs convincing, this is a Penguin but not an ordinary common type this is an Australian Penguin & only seen the vicinity of Melbourne. HeHeHe. Anyway I like this & by the way the WS version is a nice closeup portrait type but here you have all those different colours & layers that shows his environment & compliment this,this,this, feathered bird. Well done, I like your note, it tells a little of the fun we have when we are together.

SteveH (3959) 2009-11-01 20:20

Hi Alfred, nice idea, using the penquin as a well placed compositional element works well, showing the surrounds well. The chanel marker in the opposite corner balances the image well too. BTW - your 50-500 seems to have worked well on the Ws image. cheers, Steve

macondo (13205) 2009-11-01 23:15

Hi Alfred.
Glad you explained the title! I thought for a moment you could not even recognise a seagull.
The photo is a beauty, with the shallow DOF really bringing the focus squarely on to the well placed 'penguin'. The colours are fantastic in the increasingly blurred layers. The vertical 'portrait' orientation was a great choice.
Regards,
Andrew

burraburra (875) 2009-11-02 1:53

Hi Alfred,
Nice verticle composition.
Very clear clean shot of the 'Penguin'.
Did they recently see a Batman movie?
Great FG colours and clarity.
Nicely done.
Cheers,
Graham.

mozzy27 (355) 2009-11-02 1:54

Hi Alfred
Nice Penguin, I mean Pelican you almost had me confused then, sorry. Good sharp well composed image. DOF especially in the FG is brilliant. I feel that the BG detracts from the overall shot, may be better if it were cropped more closely around the pelican.
Thanks
Peter

kschanna (6) 2009-11-04 1:20

Hahhaa, Its a crackup

You've gotta cut him some slack Alf, Pelicans and Penguins have a lot in common, colors, the starting letter of the name among many things. I like this compo and the colors.

Thanks for sharing
Kamran

jusninasirun (10211) 2009-11-04 17:29

Hi Alfred: I like the note and you should post this to TN if people over there will agree with you :-)
You are such a funny guy bird this bird is so well captured. Shallow tack sharp focus leaving the background rather dreamy isolating any possible distraction to the subject. Wonderful shot and I like the WS as well. Best regards. Jusni

patdeph (18158) 2009-11-05 9:53

hello Alfred
it's funny to read that someone can think it's a penguin!I prefer your WS,without the blue band of sea in the background,because I think that it disturbs a little bit!But the sharpness on the fears is excellent!
Regards
Pascale

axiotea (16193) 2009-11-05 20:22

Bonjour Alfred
A penguin disguised as a pelican? ;))
Excellent luminosity, choice of selective focus and lovely BG (I like very much these blue layers) dispayed in an appropriate vertical format! the closer approach in ws is also nice, but I definitely do prefer the main version!
As you know, I also wish to have a 50-500mm or even a 80-400 OS (sigma) but I have to think about it, because of its weight(almost 2kgs).
Have a nice day ;)
Marilyn

cherryripe (19097) 2009-11-08 4:50

Hi Alfred
Your note makes me smile because I remember going to Ricketts' Point for a school geography excursion. Good placement of the pelican, nicely balanced with the post in the background. Excellent bokeh helping the pelican stand out so well.
Regards
Nikki

jhm (83035) 2009-11-09 4:27

Hello Alfred,

The photo is a beauty, with the shallow DOF really bringing the focus squarely on to the well placed Pelican.
The colours are fantastic in the increasingly blurred layers.
Very well composition and good presentation. TFS.

Have a nice day,
John

adores (15691) 2009-11-14 17:55

Hi Alfred!
I must confess you that I like your "penguin"!The photo is really good with a perfect focus.I like the blurred background, the composition in layers and the way you placed it on the left side. Light is perfect!