cgraphics

The pelicans seem to be more numerous here than at other spots on the coast. Some these shots were taken at flood control locks there, and the last one standing on a dune above the famous Playalinda Beach. I promise I didn't look down at the beach. Most were taken with a Canon 5D with a 70 - 200 2.8 L IS, in my opinion one of the best lenses ever built. However, even with the stabilization, with moving targets toward the 200 mm end of the range, there is some lack of sharpness. Since these were taken, I have learned some about ISO vs. f stop vs shutter speed and tend to do a bit better now.

Floyd R Turbo Loc: Kingwood, TX

A gorgeous bird is the pelican,
Whose bill can hold more than his bellican,
He can put in his beak enough food for a week,
But I’m blessed if I can see how in hellican

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I hate to say this, but I have to agree with your own statements. I really think you could have put your camera in full auto mode and had sharper images than what you got. I'm a wildlife photographer and I'll give you the quick and dirty settings that WILL give you 100% better and sharper images.

Av mode
f/2.8 or f/4 (wide open on the lens)
ISO 640
Landscape picture style
Auto W/B
+2/3 on the EC
Evaluative Metering
Burst mode
AI Servo focusing

Your pictures will be 1000% better

Oh, and one more bit of advice, no butt shots (birds flying away), make sure you can see the eye of any animal including birds and that the eye is sharp otherwise throw it away.

cgraphics

Thanks. I'll post some "headshots" sometime.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Looks like all these are suffering from motion blur. What was your shutter speed? Even with Pelicans, which are relatively slow, you need sufficient shutter speed to capture the motion to get sharp images. Although Jeep Daddy has provided some good advise, he does not mention shutter speed. With that lens, I would suggest nothing less than 1/1000 to start. The 5D was a great camera in its day, however compared to more modern Canons, the AF system lacks. If you are serious about shooting wildlife/moving subjects, you will probably be looking at more up to date bodies.

Good luck with this. But be warned, bird photography is a vicious hobby on you wallet, but once hooked worth it.

cgraphics

I shoot mainly a 5Ds now.

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

Good shots, cgraphics!