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Gordon W | all galleries >> Photos by Subject or Genre >> Birds Gallery >> Birds by Location >> Birds of Texas >> Pelicans of Texas > Taking The Plunge 20081222
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Taking The Plunge 20081222
22-DEC-2008

Taking The Plunge 20081222

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Brown Pelicans have a practice of diving for fish by plunging into the water from flight.
After countless failed attempts off and on over a span of several years trying to catch
one of these rascals in a plunge just at the split second its bill touches the water,
today I finally succeeded!

Photographed along the Gulf coast near Port Lavaca, Texas, USA.
32271v2

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi ,Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
1/500s f/6.3 at 300.0mm iso800 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time22-Dec-2008 18:21:52
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length300 mm
Exposure Time1/500 sec
Aperturef/6.3
ISO Equivalent800
Exposure Bias-1/3
White Balance
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programaperture priority (3)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original
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comment
Stewart 07-Feb-2011 22:18
Excellent capture!
MolloyPhoto 07-Feb-2011 13:06
Amazing!
Linda Johansson 30-Sep-2010 11:04
Perfect and impressive!
Audun Nygaard 24-Aug-2010 14:32
very nice shoot, perfect timing
Dan Opdal 24-Feb-2010 07:22
Very Excellent Image Gordon!!! V
Stuart Smith 19-Feb-2010 14:10
Impeccable timing!
Ian Dalgliesh 29-Jan-2010 20:49
Wow!what a terrific shot.Bravo!
imagetj 05-Jan-2010 13:26
Perfect Timing
monica memoli 03-Dec-2009 00:19
Wow! Great timing!
Chad Ramsey 27-Aug-2009 18:15
Hay that pelican is up to his beak in air.... :) (I had to come comment again.)
Christophe Pampoulie 26-Aug-2009 13:39
Oh my, what a shot. Perfect timing.
Women in Digital Photography 26-Aug-2009 00:57
I'm jealous!! xcellent capture. V
Sharon Payette
Mary Bowles 14-Jun-2009 19:58
This was the one which caught my eye in the thumbnail version.
Balletic !
A superb capture; which takes one's breath away.
T. Richard Chen 25-May-2009 21:45
A typical diving bomber!! Perfect timing. - VVV -
Jeff B. 14-May-2009 22:29
Best timing ever! V
Monique Trempe 16-Apr-2009 17:47
Fantastic shot!
sergecouvrette 26-Mar-2009 00:13
This is what bird photography is all about, Absolutaly amazing shot.
Thank's for posting it.

Serge
Sue Robertson 12-Mar-2009 23:56
Good heavens, what a capture!.. v
Jean 28-Feb-2009 14:53
All nature is unprectable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Right time, correct equipment ans SUPERB TALENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing>
Pawel Kazmierczyk 31-Jan-2009 21:08
I join the chorus of viewers captivated by this image, vote
Phil 31-Jan-2009 00:11
great timing, well done
Sam X 25-Jan-2009 03:33
one in a million shot...
Tom Torbert 22-Jan-2009 05:24
This one makes me smile.. Looks like a circus trick.. Great image of amazing behavior.. V
Sandi Whitteker 18-Jan-2009 18:47
Great timing Gordon! You must have waited for this one for awhile.
Lloyd & Sandy Spitalnik 18-Jan-2009 07:13
Never any doubt you'd do it!! Super shot Gordon.
Jean Chiasson 16-Jan-2009 23:46
Beautiful image and timing vote
Andre Fontaine 15-Jan-2009 23:59
magnifique prise ! v
Guest 15-Jan-2009 23:41
I guess the best comment on this capture is: Congratulations!
Andreas Haible 15-Jan-2009 23:36
Great!!!
Marco Valk 14-Jan-2009 18:51
excellent shot; superb timing. v
The Third Side 11-Jan-2009 22:44
Amazing how they can balance on the water like that.
(great shot !)
Monique Becker et Jean Luc Bocquillon 06-Jan-2009 20:17
Wonderfull ! Vote
Jim Hackley 06-Jan-2009 17:37
What a shot, way to go.
Bill McMullen 05-Jan-2009 19:10
Perfect timing Gordon - well done!
Reflections by Ruth 04-Jan-2009 17:56
congrats, certainly worth all your persistence. perfect timing.
Our Colin 03-Jan-2009 17:43
You certainly did ! great timing ...
MarcWildPassion 02-Jan-2009 17:41
Excellent timing for sure:
neos_marc 02-Jan-2009 04:35
What a perfect timing! Great shot!
J Ponces 01-Jan-2009 18:24
Very good and difficult moment. I too, love Pelicans.... Regards
L. Clem 31-Dec-2008 23:03
BRAVO!!!!!
I have been trying for awhile to get this shot also.
Since Ike, my photo area was heavily damaged and what pelicans we had here are now gone for the winter. Have fun capturing natures comedians (they are truly funny to watch, almost human like in some respects).
Serena Bowles 30-Dec-2008 22:53
Well done you, got there in the end - great capture.
Philip Schwarz Photography 30-Dec-2008 18:26
Fantastic balance. Great catch.
Larry Grace 30-Dec-2008 13:18
Excellent, nice work in catching the action at this point.
Trevor Hovenden 30-Dec-2008 12:59
neat shot, could you give us something with a bit of action next time lol
just fantastic....well done
C Ann How 30-Dec-2008 03:10
Its just like a giant drill - what timing!
Chad Ramsey 29-Dec-2008 17:56
That's really crazy!!! Great shot Gordon! V
Hernan E. Enriquez 29-Dec-2008 00:54
Super shot1 Great timing!
Nancy Good 28-Dec-2008 23:11
WOW!! Congrats on this capture! I can certainly appreciate how elusive this has been. BV
william mahan 28-Dec-2008 21:52

It doesn't get much better than this....Fantastic!!!!
Huib Tom 28-Dec-2008 19:17
Great timing!
Apostolos Tikopoulos 28-Dec-2008 13:17
Amazing timing and a wonderful picture- V.
trinko 27-Dec-2008 18:22
great action capture
Keith O'Brien 26-Dec-2008 22:15
Brilliant capture, excellent timing! V
rainroosty 25-Dec-2008 22:59
Ooooooh, WAY TO GO!!!
Karen Moen 25-Dec-2008 14:12
Wow, what a perfect Christmas gift for you---and for us. Thank you! I also like how they fold their wings just as they hit the water. Voted.
Dan the man 25-Dec-2008 14:04
Congratulation!!! You see... Patience do pay! Bravo! V
Mike Loring Photography 24-Dec-2008 19:19
nice timing
Brian Baker 24-Dec-2008 10:13
Wonderful capture Gordon as always.
What's the next challenge!
skhin 23-Dec-2008 22:43
Nice stop action shot!
Rian Houston 23-Dec-2008 15:09
Cool shot! V.
Jennifer M 23-Dec-2008 14:25
Totally awesome!
Harriet Holland 23-Dec-2008 13:57
Great timing Gordon!!!
Doug Cruden 23-Dec-2008 09:52
Worth the wait Gordon, tremendous shot!! V
Dave Hein 23-Dec-2008 09:08
Outstanding! And worth all the failed attempts I'm sure! :)
Gérard Koehl 23-Dec-2008 06:07
Wo... excellent. V
Kat 23-Dec-2008 05:44
Excellent capture of the brown pelicans humorous style of fishing. They are fun to watch. Nice work...Vote :)
Stuart Smith 23-Dec-2008 05:07
Congratulations! Perfect timing... v
Sam Rua 23-Dec-2008 04:43
Great timing Gordon.
Yi Feng 23-Dec-2008 04:29
Wonderful timing!
Jean Ray 23-Dec-2008 04:09
Wow! This is an amazing feat-- for both of you! I have never seen a pelican dive at that angle before, and to catch it at that moment is incredible!
Herb Knufken 23-Dec-2008 03:47
Well captured
Dennis Hoyne 23-Dec-2008 03:42
Excellent! Perfect timing.
Kuriacose Joseph 23-Dec-2008 03:07
Congratulations!
jCross 23-Dec-2008 02:28
absolutely stuning, Gordon.
carol j. phipps 23-Dec-2008 02:06
Acrabat! Vote
Tom Munson 23-Dec-2008 02:02
Now that's some great timing, Gordon. Terrific image.
Tomasz Dziubinski - Photography 23-Dec-2008 01:48
Terrific shot, Vote !
Bill Ewart Jr 23-Dec-2008 01:46
Gordon, this is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guest 23-Dec-2008 01:33
Great Capture
Brad Claypole 23-Dec-2008 01:17
Great that you finally got it.
marko gregoric 23-Dec-2008 00:12
Very good action shot. V.
Glen Sansoucie 23-Dec-2008 00:05
Incredible timing! Great shot!