American White Pelicans

[mbrager]

Far
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/8734304562_4b5fb4ac5c_b.jpg

Near
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7316/8733195373_05a53de961_b.jpg

[Runmonty]

Nice set MB. It is amazing that such big birds get airborne. That is quite a wingspan in shot 2

[Hillbillygirl]

Cool perspective in #1 and some nice detail in #2 MB. Well done.

[Marko]

very cool set mbrager!!Really love the comp and movement in shot 1

[JAS_Photo]

Cool captures, Mike! Most Calgarians are amazed to hear that Calgary has a flock that summers here every year. Were these taken near the weir?

[Matt K.]

Ha! I see you have been to the weir again. Wonderful captures, both of them. Makes it all worthwhile to go for the hour's drive, doesn't it?

[mbrager]

Thanks for the comments on these. It took me a while to figure out that the lines of the water flow were leading lines for the pelican in shot 1, so I was experimenting with several different crops. These were shot at Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park, southeast of Calgary along the Bow River. There is a weir there that must attract fish, as there was a fairly large flock of pelicans as well as cormorants.
Here's another photo from the same location:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/8749986720_a2d4a889e5_b.jpg

[Jason]

I love that first shot. Very original composition!

[mbrager]

Thanks Jason.