Birds

Pelecanus crispus (common name: Dalmatian pelican)

A Dalmatian pelican swims gracefully at the Evros Delta until I closed in with my camera. Being a really large and heavy bird it is not capable of taking off on the spot so I had the pleasure of shooting it taking off. First it makes several jumps on the water, flapping its wings, till it gains some height. What a contrast when compared with the sitting pelicans you see at the zoo.
 
Photos by George J. Reclos
 
Shooting Data:

1. Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/640 sec - f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized

2. Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/750 sec - f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized

3. Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/640 sec - f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized

4. Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/640 sec - f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized. Some of the pictures taken at the Evros Delta and Dadia forest are oversharpened intentionally, to make the main subject more "visible".
 

Pelican and it's reflection - Pelecanus crispus (common name: Dalmatian pelican)

A Pelican photographed while it was "gliding" over the water in a pond in the Blijdorp Zoo. I liked the reflection in the water very much.
 
Photo by Frank Panis
 
Shooting Data:

Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Zoom Nikkor AF-S DX 18–70 mm f/3.5–4.5G IF ED @ 70 mm
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed and aperture: 1/125, f6.3
Flash: None
Image: RAW, converted in Nikon Capture editor 4.3.1 

Pelecanus crispus taking a bath

A pelican taking a bath is an interesting subject which can be shot in two ways. Using a fast shutter speed will reveal all the details of the wings and the shape they take as the pelican tries to dry them. A slow speed will reveal less detail but will show the wings' movement pattern. In those photos the first option was chosen. It was a strange day as far as light conditions are concerned since sunshine and clouds were dominating the sky alternatively, causing a difference of more then 2 f/stops.  
 
Photos by George J. Reclos

Shooting Data:
 
1. Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Nikkor AF 80-200 mm f/2.8 ED D @ 200 mm.
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/1600 sec, f/6.3 Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized.

2. Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Nikkor AF 80-200 mm f/2.8 ED D @ 200 mm.
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/640 sec, f/5.6 Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized.


3. Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Nikkor AF 80-200 mm f/2.8 ED D @ 170 mm.
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/750 sec, f/5.6 Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized.

These photographs were taken at the Attica Zoological Park.