What to do, what to do? @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
After posting a few stories about pelicans already, it is tough to come up with an entertaining storyline. However, it is just as hard for me to ignore the colourful photos of pelicans I took here at Evans Head.
Saturated colour spectrum @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
The blue sky background is just striking. Adding sharp colours and extravagant behaviour from pelicans to it, resulted in hundreds of photos. This leaves me in my usual predicament. It is just too overwhelming to choose which photos to use for this post.
Just another sitting @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
When I had the chance, I changed my camera settings.
Shadow stripes in paintings @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
The painting setting deepened the shadow lines and outlined them more obvious.
Comical in paintings @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
It also adds a comical factor.
Clear sepia @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Sepia captured the birds clearly.
I like everything about this photo @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
But in these sunny conditions, my favourite setting is obvious. No matter what camera setting I used though, the result was fabulous either way. In my humble opinion anyway.
Golden hour’s colours @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
The so-called photographic ‘Golden Hour’ appears twice a day within sunny conditions. It is the time just after the sun had risen and the time just before the sunlight fades to complete darkness.
Saturated colours with the sun @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Another important photographic factor is to decide on the angle of the sun. Keeping the sunlight behind you intensifies the pelican’s distinguished colours within a saturated deep blue.
Pointing towards the sun @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Pointing your camera towards the sun outlined the object’s core. Both resulted in amazing photos. I was lucky to experience this colour spectrum several times. I will, therefore, illustrate the early morning procedure in this post, and the afternoon spectacle will be filed in a different log.
Early morning glory @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
The sun had just risen over the horizon as the first sunlight appears over the headland. First warming sun rays had just enough glare to deepen the bird’s colours in saturating blue sky. The deep blue alone would be worth taking a photo of. But if you have a flock of pelicans posing for you, the objective is quite simple.
Enjoying warming sun rays @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Drying off is the first priority. There’s nothing like that sun-warming sensation after a chilly night.
Itchy and scratchy @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Regardless, if one is fed and just returned from the brackish waters, a good body clean is necessary.
Flexible combination @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
The immensely flexible neck juggles a beak of the same size.
Underbelly scratch @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
This combination is extremely versatile.
Beak disappearance @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Even though, neck and beak seem to disappear in some photos. Peek-a-boo!
Hooked on feathers @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
The sharp hook at the end of the beak is most definitely the best scratching tool for these birds.
Back scratch dynamics @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Being able to reach almost every part of their feathered body results in fascinating poses.
All smiles @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
To scratch your back in this manner must be heavenly, as the smile suggests.
Dislodged @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Other postures just look odd.
Clumsy? @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Or clumsy.
Yet another different view @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Either position is just as amusing. It is very much of a balancing act too.
Stable platform @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
The flat light platform seems to be the preferred option over the round pipe. But either pelican is managing quite well.
Gripping @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
The pelican’s webbed feet actually have a ‘finger’ pointing backwards. This acts as a thumb and enables pelicans to hold on tightly to slippery or round surfaces.
Body scratch @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Wherever even the rotating neck/beak combination can’t reach, there is another option.
Physical laws @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
The foot scratch. Physical laws are well calculated throughout this corrective act.
Balance act @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
The centre of body mass is well in balance as the foot moves towards the head without difficulty.
Almost there @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Wait for it!
Classic @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Who can do that on a shitty pole?
Lookout! @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Sitting high above the vantage line, nothing seems to miss their attention. Pelicans are always looking out for opportunities.
Wide eyes reflex @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Opening their beak seems to intensify their eyes automatically. This could be a muscular reflex.
Every step I take! @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Every now and then, a quick check-up on my doing is noticed. And it doesn’t matter which part of their body was confronting my camera.
Keeping a watch on aerial activities @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
From up there, nothing goes unnoticed.
Enjoy.the silence @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
The ones that already finished their morning clean up, enjoyed the warming sun.
Resting hour @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
If that was too stressful, a bit of shut-eye was stimulated.
No shit! @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
He won’t be taking any shite from anyone, he’s got plenty of his own.
A different view @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Being right under the lamp post gave me an interesting view on a pelican’s bottom.
Nothing like a good shake some times. It loosens the feather frock quite well.
Peaking the beak @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
A rather curious look from this angle. But, it didn’t go unnoticed.
I spy with my big eye! @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
He didn’t only keep a good eye out for me. There was a lot of traffic in the air.
Incoming @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Sometimes, neighbours fly in for a chat.
Oh no, not that guy! @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
But so early mornings?
‘This Spot is taken!’ @;Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
There really is no need for this kinda behaviour, is there?
’I had a big night out and eaten too much!’ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Where have you been all night?
‘Did you save any for me or do I have to get my own breakfast?’ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
No breakfast in bed again? He couldn’t tolerate this ignorant behaviour any longer.
’This is my spot! And when I come back, I will land there again!’. Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
This pelican pointed out a few valuable factors.
‘Keep your pants on, mate!’ @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Off he flew into the blue sky
Outgoing! @ Evans Head, Northern New South Wales, Australia
Scanning through my photos after a busy photo session is always like a ‘kid in a candy store-moment’ for me.
Re-living and knowing, that these joyful times are recorded forever. As it is for other photo enthusiasts. Fabulous.
Travels with Ben 