Taking The Plunge 20081222 by Gordon W

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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 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto

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Stewart Oliver		07-Feb-2011 22:18
Excellent capture!

MolloyPhoto		07-Feb-2011 13:06
Amazing!

Linda & Pär Johansson		30-Sep-2010 11:04
Perfect and impressive!

Guest		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!

Guest		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.

Guest		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!

Guest		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

Guest		06-Jan-2009 17:37
What a shot, way to go.

Guest		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.

Guest		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

Guest		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.

Guest		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

Carol 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

Guest		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!

Guest		23-Dec-2008 22:43
Nice stop action shot!

Rian Houston		23-Dec-2008 15:09
Cool shot! V.

Guest		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! :)

Gerard Koehl		23-Dec-2008 06:07
Wo... excellent. V

Guest		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		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!