This is a pelican at the local zoo. This was a big group, and it proved rather difficult to isolate one single pelican. This one started looking straight into the lens and I just let her rip.
Applied USM, and a little hue/saturation to emphasize the vivid pink colors.
My first submission ever. I wasn't planning on submitting anything, but I liked this shot so much I thought I could give it a try. Go easy on me ;)
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I think this is an excellent subject matter. My criticism: the sunny area of the photo is pretty hot - seems a bit overexposed, however there is still plenty of detail left in the skin under the beak. I would also prefer to see either less of the beak and more of the head or the entire beak. Having said that, It is possible to have this much of the beak showing, but maybe with a different composition, possibly having him higher on the right frame bringing the eye down to the left while following the beak. I know you can't pose these critters though, amd waiting for the opportune shot could get long!
6 - Yes you are, mostly. Criticism; even more detail would make this better in my opinion. A little 'blown', but that pale pink coloring against such a dark background likely makes contrast control difficult. In my opinion, if there was only one bird, the centered composition would have worked better, but with the two in the background, maybe more space, probably on the left (given the lighter variation of water(?) on the right), may have also made this better. Of course the beak 'cut' is obvious, on that I think that either an even tighter cropping on the head, or else incorporating the entire beak, dependent of course what you had to work with.
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