Close-up of a double-crested cormorant showing its mesmerizing eyes.
Close-up of a double-crested cormorant showing its mesmerizing eyes.
Read less
Read less
Views
4645
Likes
Awards
Winner in Shagadelic Baby Photo Challenge
Winner in #DoubleCrestedCormorant Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Animals With Wings Photo Contest
Winner in Your Best Unedited Image (No Nudes) Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
All Star
Virtuoso
Outstanding Creativity
Genius
Top Ranks
Categories
Skykink
January 04, 2020
Thank you, he fishes regularly in a pond about a half mile from my house and I wanted to show off his amazing eyes.
tamike000
June 21, 2021
You have no idea how hard I cracked up looking at this beautiful photo and shared it with so many thank you for sharing this gorgeous photo
Ciego64
February 22, 2022
Great shot! I think that is a female. The males are almost black. But those eyes!!!!
Skykink
July 28, 2022
Thanks Rick, did you read the story with it - it is really what encouraged me after going Best of Show with it in my first ever photo contest.
princess1
August 19, 2022
Love him….goofy but great! It’s hard to believe that he’s real he’s so different.
Skykink
August 19, 2022
Thanks, one of my very early photos after getting my DSLR in 2013 and one of my personal favs. They are fascinating birds.
belchertownphotos
December 29, 2022
What kind of bird is this? Did you color the eyes or is this how they were?
StephanKravitz
Feb 12
In the “Bird Addiction” special photo contest you have 2 picture in position 2 and 10 on the page.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo has a multi-level story to it. It was taken at Boca Ciega Millennium Park in Seminole, FL which is a large county park adjacent to my home. It is a wonderland of various species for the nature photographer. i'm going to use this space to tell more about the photo. I have been around these cormorants so often that they have become very tolerant of my close presence. In that many do not see these birds from a close perspective, I wanted to highlight the mesmerizing eyes of the bird so I went for a narrow DOF to hone in on the eyes. As an aside, I was amazed at how well the nature background blended with the coloration of the bird. The photo is one of my favorites for multiple reasons, but for one, it was the first photo I ever entered into any kind of photo competition. This was a rather large 31st annual contest judged by professional photographers and contested in 6 different categories. The awards breakfast was held in St. Petersburg, FL and I decided to attend. As I wandered about looking at some of the finalist photos hanging on the walls, I thought to myself that I did not have a chance in this contest. I then spied a group of people hovering about one photo and went over to see what all the fuss was about. The photo has a large "Best of Show" ribbon hanging by it and a blue ribbon for winning it's class - IT WAS MINE!! I had won my first photo contest. The photo was picked up by "Outdoor Photographer" magazine who asked me to write an article about the venue in which it was shot and the photo was featured in the article. They paid me a very nice sum to write the article and publish this photo.Time
The photo was taken in the morning, a time that the local cormorants are actively fishing.Lighting
Of course we are all aware of the "magic hours" of photography and this was taken during that wonderful time of morning, angular lighting.Equipment
Camera was an EOS 70D handheld equipped with my favorite nature lens, a Canon 100-400 mm L lens.Inspiration
My inspiration was to show those who never have the opportunity to get close to these wonderful birds the incredible coloration of their eyes by taking a close up portrait of the bird with a narrow depth of field honing in on the eyes.Editing
No special processing other than converting from RAW to JPEGIn my camera bag
For nature photography, my specialty, I like to hand carry a Canon 7D Mark II equipped with a Canon 100-400mm L lens.Feedback
When it come to nature photography, I find that patience is quite a necessary virtue although I must admit that my most favorite shots were mostly luck. Get to know your subject matter and have a mission/reason for each particular photo. One tip that has really helped me is that for getting quick action shots such as birds in flight, turn off the lens stabilization. In that you are shooting at faster speeds, it is not only unnecessary, but you will find that you will get faster focus acquisition of your subject.