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Pelicans On Flight


Pelicans On Flight
Photo Information
Copyright: Ken Ilio (flip89) Silver Note Writer [C: 8 W: 1 N: 54] (260)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-08-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, Nikkor 80-400mm VR, Quantaray 77mm UV
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Interacting birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-08-27 2:58
Viewed: 1817
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
While I was taking pictures of Salton Sea, California's largest inland surface water body, a flock of birds flew overhead. I didn't know what they were but I took a lot of pictures of them. Later did I learn after I have downloaded the pictures that they were pelicans.

Salton Sea is a 98 year-old body of water that formed in the Salton Basin of Southern California as a result basically of agricultural run off. Back in the late 1800s, this area of California, a basin remnant of the ancient Cahuilla River, was developed as a viable agricultural area with water diverted from the mighty Colorado River through irrigation canals. The sea was formed when the Colorado went on a rampage smashing through the poorly built irrigation controls, with the river rushing in unchecked for 16 months. A new sea 45 miles long and 20 miles wide had been formed. Currently, the sea is about 35 miles long and 15 miles wide with a maximum depth of 48 feet. It is the largest body of water entirely within the state of California, and one of its finest fisheries.

The Sea is a major stop on the Pacific Flyway and supports a diverse bird population with more than 400 species frequenting the Sea on their migratory paths, making it a bird watcher's paradise. Egrets, herons, ducks, geese and pelicans nest, feed and roost on its shores.

Post processing included increasing contrast and saturation and USM after resizing.
Midi, carper, nwoehnl, elihesam has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Midi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 150 W: 24 N: 183] (2417)
  • [2004-08-27 3:06]

Is it your first picture on TN? Very good shot, I like the position of birds, the blue sky (as in my region, south of FRANCE)
Congratulations.
Jean Louis.

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2004-08-27 12:50]

I like it Kenneth,
Very good capture, good colours, and an exelent note very good job

Hi Ken, nice seeing you post here on TN. This is a good first entry, with a delightful pattern made by the flight formation of the pelicans. Nice repetitive diagonal pattern, and good rendition of detail to explore the subtle variations in the way the guys are positioning their heads and wings in-flight. Good colors, too, well done.

Hi Kenneth
Glad to see you in TN with this beautiful shot,I like it alot,neat,sharp & well managed,with a fine composition,nicely captured,You did great.
Yours
Mohammad

A beautiful composition. The rich blue sky is a wonderful canvas for the flight of those pelicans. Each is in its own form. Well done.

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