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Pelicans at 800mm
 
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Pelicans at 800mm

 
Wildlife and Animal Photography
Last Post by Ronald 1 year ago
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Nightjar
 Nightjar
(@nightjar)
Estimable Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 74
Topic starter January 11, 2024 2:21 pm  

Last spring, I did a combined birding/photography/family trip to Greece. I brought only my 800mm PF as telephoto lens (no space for a second one). For most of the trip, it was the perfect choice.

However, during the final days we visited lake Kerkini in Northern Greece, well-known among European birders and wildlife photographers as pelican paradise – both Dalmatian and Great white pelicans breed there. Since pelicans are huge and – at least in this place – not exactly shy, 800mm was definitely on the long end, especially for action. A zoom in the 200-600mm range would probably have been the best choice. But I had to work with what I had, and in the end, I found that the lens was more versatile than one might give it credit for – I ended up with a lot of keepers, also many nice action shots.

Here is a pick of my favorite photos of the pelicans:

 

Dalmatian Pelican

Nikon Z9 + Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 800mm, ISO 100, 1/1000, f/6.3

Great white pelican 1

Nikon Z9 + Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 800mm, ISO 250, 1/1000, f/6.3

Great white pelican 2

Nikon Z9 + Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 800mm, ISO 160, 1/800, f/6.3

Great white pelican 3

Nikon Z9 + Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 800mm, ISO 110, 1/800, f/6.3

Great white pelican 4

Nikon Z9 + Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S @ 800mm, ISO 450, 1/1600, f/6.3


   
Arhphoto, Bhoward, Darin Marcus and 1 people reacted
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Ronald
 Ronald
(@ronaldsmeets)
Estimable Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 127
January 12, 2024 9:50 am  

Wow, awesome images! Really like that last one 👍

My photography website | Imagine Limburg | RetroReflection (via Substack)


   
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Darin Marcus
 Darin Marcus
(@darin-marcus)
Honorable Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 290
January 12, 2024 11:53 am  

Great photos indeed!


   
Nightjar reacted
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Nightjar
 Nightjar
(@nightjar)
Estimable Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 74
Topic starter January 12, 2024 1:05 pm  

Thank you! :)

@ronaldsmeets that's actually my favourite, too - the slightly out-of-focus Cormorants complement the Pelican perfectly, i think.


   
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Ronald
 Ronald
(@ronaldsmeets)
Estimable Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 127
January 13, 2024 8:56 am  

Posted by: @nightjar
↑

Thank you! :)

@ronaldsmeets that's actually my favourite, too - the slightly out-of-focus Cormorants complement the Pelican perfectly, i think.

That, plus there's something about the posture of the pelican caught in mid-flight - looks like its going beyond the sound barrier ;-)

 

My photography website | Imagine Limburg | RetroReflection (via Substack)


   
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