Grace Cohen
November 2025 - Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus)
About the Image(s)
Location: Chinese Hat Islet, Galapagos
Shot: October 2025
Photographer: Grace Dunklee Cohen
Gear: Canon Canon R5 RF 100-500 at 300mm
Settings: 1/3200 - f / 5.6, ISO 800 handheld from Zodiac Boat
The Zodiac was almost too close for me for me to lock onto this lovely Galapagos Penguin. It
was trying to decide whether to dive in or not. It leaned in like this several times but eventually
backed down the rock to slide into the water in a rather undramatic manner.
I like this shot because it shows some of this lovely bird’s spot pattern ??“ which, like our
fingerprints, is unique to each bird.
Edits include cropping, adjusting shadows, texture, dehaze and exposure.
5 comments posted
Good focus and good exposure Grace resulted in a sharp clear image against a bright background. Posted: 11/17/2025 13:05:32
T think this is great. I can see the bird thinking over the jump or not to jump. Your story takes me there with you. Not much color and the bird kinda merges into the rock but that is ok with me. Posted: 11/17/2025 22:40:49
Good shot. How about opening shadows on eye? Posted: 11/18/2025 09:48:20
Nice shot with great details on the penguins. Opening up the shadow on the eye would help take the attention there. Very well done. Posted: 11/19/2025 16:59:57
Grace, the Galapagos penguins are smaller than the Antartica ones. This guy definitively shows that he is debating whether to jump or not. Being the rock also dark takes away some of the details of the feet and lower plumage. The image is sharp. Posted: 11/20/2025 19:15:08