Jennifer Marano
April 2026 - Pelicans on the Go
About the Image(s)
Tech: OM Systems OM 1 Mark 2, 12 ??“ 100 lens at 25 mm, ISO 320, f/16, 1/125 sec
I attended a photography conference in Santa Cruz, CA, last week and, while attending a seascape workshop, these brown pelicans flew over on their way somewhere. I had no time to reset the camera ??“ just snapped a few frames. I liked how the line of birds echoed the line of the nearby cliff. I’m so glad I looked up!
9 comments posted
You didn't need to reset anything, Jennifer! It is an amazing shot! The line of birds follows the outline of the cliff. The cliff itself is in perfect focus, showing the strength of the cliff against the delicacy of the birds. A beautiful shot. Posted: 04/01/2026 15:31:22
Thank you Cindy! I appreciate your kind comments. And it makes me happy that you saw what I loved about this image. I really did need a higher shutter speed for the birds, but I can almost get away with it at the small size we use on this site. I don't think I would like it as much if I tried printing the photo. But I was delighted to have caught the juxtaposition of the birds and the cliff, and not everything needs to be printed! Posted: 04/01/2026 15:49:49
OMG no way to plan this! And the sitting bird is like, "yeah, maybe later." Kinda funny. Great shot. Send it out on every social media you got.
On my Nikon I have the Fn2 button set for situations like this. Short shutter, rapid frame rate, subject tracking, auto-iso. IF. I. COULD. ONLY. REMEMBER. TO. PUSH. IT. Posted: 04/01/2026 17:35:53
On my Nikon I have the Fn2 button set for situations like this. Short shutter, rapid frame rate, subject tracking, auto-iso. IF. I. COULD. ONLY. REMEMBER. TO. PUSH. IT. Posted: 04/01/2026 17:35:53
Thanks Will. Your Fn2 button sounds like a great thing to have. Someday I will set up some Fn buttons that I can then forget to push! Posted: 04/01/2026 18:26:58
What a great capture! Your reflexes must be functioning really well :-). And it's great that they are not overlapping with each other and that they echo the shape of the rocks. And that bird at the bottom sitting and watching them adds interest and variety, as well as all the different postures of the birds. Great shot! Posted: 04/01/2026 22:44:49
The settings are irrelevant - it's all about the image - and I'd say you nailed it. The birds are small - and that helps you get away with a slower shutter speed. Nobody is looking at their detail; it's all about the scene/formation. And the solitary bird sitting there creates interest and makes me wonder. You could consider removing some of the birds (for example the two right-most that are overlapping), depending on your mood and intended use. Posted: 04/03/2026 08:49:07
Thanks for your comments! And thanks for the suggestion to remove some of the birds - I will definitely experiment with that! Posted: 04/03/2026 14:18:42
Very rarely does an image like this appear. As mentioned, the position of the birds in flight suggest the shape of the cliff. (I would not remove a single bird.) All of this is good, but what this outstanding in my eyes is the one sitting bird. Just one bird. No more. Posted: 04/05/2026 20:56:03
What a great photo! The birds alignment with the cliff and the sharp cliff details compared to the softer birds are perfect. I agree with everyone, the one lone bird tells a great story. Again, great photo! Posted: 04/07/2026 21:39:51