“We look at the world and see what we have learned to believe is there. We have been conditioned to expect… but, as photographers, we must learn to relax our beliefs.” – Aaron Siskind

Earl Moore Photography
Five Pelicans - Southward Bound, Kitty Hawk, NC

Relaxing my beliefs is not an easy task for me but I’m trying to be open and non-assuming when viewing things. I’m trying to find/see the beauty in both the complex and the simple and allow myself to be inspired in the moment. It’s a work in progress — with much work yet to be done. :-)

I watched these five pelican flying south along the Atlantic Ocean shore each morning and back northward the following evenings. I have no idea what laid at either end of their flight paths but there seemed a regular schedule and I made it a point to have a camera ready for a morning pass, shot from our hotel balcony. If you look at the pelicans from left to right their wing stroke positions look much like time lapsed photography — pure luck and only noticed after the shot was made.

With selective focusing during post-processing I tried to give a bit of a tilt-shift look to this image.


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pj
pj
13 years ago

That quote is a great reminder of why I’m such an admirer of Aaron Siskind.

Love the photo Earl. It would be a good one even without the wing positions being what they are. Sometimes Lady Luck is our best friend.

Ove
Ove
13 years ago

Interesting pelicans, commuting ones supposedly.
That’s a great quote of how we are and what we need to do, from time to time. I do think we all have something to learn here, to step outside the frame, so to say.

Anita Jesse
13 years ago

We are, indeed, creatures of habit and simply doing what we have always done is always easier than trying to find a fresh approach. I find that I am constantly struggling to remain “conscious”. Some times when I view photos I wonder what I was looking at rather than what was in front of me.

Ken Bello
13 years ago

The selective focus adds to the drama in this shot, Earl. And it really does have the time-lapsed, multi-exposure look. The dark wave at the bottom gives it a little tension.

paul
13 years ago

Very cool shot, Earl, and good observation about the pelicans.

Don
Don
13 years ago

I like the time-lapse effect you happened to capture. The learning to “see” with less previous expectation is a difficult thing to do. I’m going to give that idea some thought.

Nik | ExP
13 years ago

For a moment I thought this was time-lapse, nice capture and I like the TS effect, nice addition to the image.

Monte Stevens
13 years ago

Yep, commuters for sure. Your observation is an indication of your progress in your work in progress. In fact I’m willing to wager that your work has been improving each time you press the shutter or sit at your work station in the new cave.

And, I once again want to tell you I enjoy this color scheme.

Mark
13 years ago

I really like that quote Earl. I am going to add it to my collection!

I think it is pretty cool to be able to observe wildlife conducting their daily routines.

Aswirly
13 years ago

Awesome. You are so right about the wing strokes. What a fantastic catch and I love the cropping. A beautiful intimate landscape. Those pelicans look like they’re skipping across the water.

Martina Egli
13 years ago

That is a magnificent photograph! I love your inspiring quote by Aaron Siskind. Great work!