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American White Pelican Takeoff Flight Sequence

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Mike Hendren Photography

A few years ago, I was fishing on Lake Pueblo in Colorado and spotted this American White Pelican sitting on a stump sticking up out of the lake.  I got my camera ready and, using the trolling motor, slowly drifted toward the big bird.  I was lucky to get fairly close before he decided to takeoff and I was able to get about a dozen shots of him struggling to get airborne.

Takeoff flight sequence of American White Pelican

Then, I combined six of the images in photoshop to show this progressive sequence of the pelican's attempt to fly.  They do have to work very hard to get in the air!  :-)

 

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Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Now THAT is cool! Thank you! I feel rather behind because I don't use or have photoshop. (something to look forward to!)

Mar 23, 2009 11:04 AM
Mike Hendren
Mike Hendren Photography - Cloudcroft, NM

I would recommend Photoshop Elements.  It offers about 95% of the functionality of the VERY expensive full version of Photoshop and will most likely do this photo merge like I used here.  It's only $99, maybe less on amazon.com or somewhere like that.  I acutally use Elements more than Photoshop (full) because it is just a little easier to do the things most of us photographers do, anyway.

Mar 23, 2009 11:16 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Mike:  Very cool.  I'm always jealous when I see great bird photos.  I can't take one to save my life. 

Mar 23, 2009 12:38 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Thanks Mike, I will look into that! I use AcdSee for most editing, and I love it, very simple. I put the Pentax Photo Lab on the computer, have not even attempted to use it yet.

Mar 23, 2009 12:41 PM
Mike Hendren
Mike Hendren Photography - Cloudcroft, NM

Thanks Chris.  I wish I could say this was entirely due to skill and cunning, but I think I just got lucky that day. 

Mar 23, 2009 01:08 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Mike- very interesting....I have never used my Photoshop or Elements to do anything clever like this :)  On the Danube Delta in Eastern Europe I was lucky enough to see a whole flock of rare all white pelicans.  It was amazing watching them as we drifted through the canals.

Mar 23, 2009 01:14 PM
Mike Hendren
Mike Hendren Photography - Cloudcroft, NM

Hi Kathy.  It takes them a ways to get going but they sure are graceful once airborne.

Mar 23, 2009 03:01 PM
Lori Churchill Cofer
Beasley Realty - Pullman, WA
Realtor - 509-330-0086 - Pullman, WA

Mike,

That is really fantastic!  And a picture is worth a thousand words...they do work hard to take flight...

Mar 23, 2009 04:39 PM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Mike!
Being a bronze sculptor of wildlife (geese, ducks and flamingos being in my repertoire), I can really appreciate what an awesome sequence this is! Very nice...it just might inspire me to do a sequence sculpture!

Mar 23, 2009 04:47 PM
Mike Hendren
Mike Hendren Photography - Cloudcroft, NM

Lori - you're right!  I remember mentally cheering that bird on . . . wonderding if he was going to make it!  :-)

Paula - thank you.  If you do a sculpture of something like that, let me know - I'd love to see it.  Who knows, if I sell a house or two, I might just be your first customer!

Mar 24, 2009 02:08 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Mike...I do admire Pelicans...this is not a bird I get to see here in Philadelphia...thank you for sharingsmile

Mar 24, 2009 06:02 AM
Mike Hendren
Mike Hendren Photography - Cloudcroft, NM

I'm surprised, Hannah - I would think Pelicans would be all over the river front there in Philly.

Mar 24, 2009 06:08 AM
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