Welcoming the New Day by Josh Exell

Wednesday, 17th December 2008

Welcoming the New Day

by Josh Exell

… the early morning sunrise. whilst out shooting landscapes this cormorant flew into frame and the rest is well…history

Equipment: d50 kit

Josh Exell

Im an 18 year old photographer from england and i have experimented with most types of photography

Flickr

37 Comments

Jim Atkin Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Josh you really Excelled with this shot. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.
James and Kelly Stone Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 4:49 am
Very nice image. Congratulations!!!
Anurag Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Though you have gone over board with the split tone filter or Postprocessing, but the overall effect and the open wing posture of the bird has created a strong “Jurassic” kind of atmosphere which working really well here. The sky has the primordial volcanic ash laden look.
The Congratulations!
Caroline Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 8:10 am
This shot stopped me in my tracks today, truely wonderful and the mood is amazing. Well done
Stee Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 9:03 am
What a stunning image
I guess you merged at least two image in a postprocessing step, because of the moving water and the firm bird position, or the bird remained in this positon for some seconds?
This is only a question indeed, you’ve got a wonderful final image.
Great composition, great colors, great moment. Congrats
Alex Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Absolutely great image! Definitely the best image in the past couple of weeks.
Original composition, fantastic atmosphere, creative subject… it’s a picture that could come from another planet or taken by a time traveller!. Congratulations again.
Waseem Asmar Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 11:08 am
wonderful image…lovely composition and color treatment
SPAIN Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Amazing image:colours, outlined shapes…
What a good luck to have caught the bird just in the air!:)
Mandy Kilpatrick Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I agree that the composition is both original and very creative. I love the warm color tones used in the same photo as misty rocks, the first time I have ever seen that. And the bird appears to welcome in the new day with open arms (wings)!
mark Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I 100% have nothing against merging images at all, if you get a great result like this it I’m all in favour, BUT why try to represent it as a genuine image “the cormorant flew into frame”. Do me a favour! No way was this one shot. The only way would be if the bird was stuffed in which case I would also consider it disingenuous.

The shutter speed required to freeze a live bird would also freeze the water, yet the water is clearly moving requiring a much longer exposure. A bit cheeky.

That gripe aside it looks great but be honest next time.
titter Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Amazing moment! The moment I would like to experience myself! Really tremendous!
Cheers
gamesh Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
hey mark, its true that it looks kinda unreal, but cormorants, just like other waterbirds, dry their wings in the sun just like that. the description might be misleading, but i think its possible to capture a shot like that with that shutter speed. but the bird was not landing or flying away, thats for sure…
g
josh exell Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
yeah this photo is knitted together 1 quick shutter and a long exposure. i saw the opertunity and got the shot of the bird then left the camera in place on the tripod and added a nd filter for the long exposure for the desired effect. it is suprising the amount of people who dont realise its two shots nitted together.
thankyou so much for the positive feedback
Marie Dunphy Harding Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
That bird would look better w/o the wings, he looks fake. The dawn colors are fabulous.
josh exell Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
ha ha a bird without wings? interesting concept there?
Eileen Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
wow! it looks unreal. Cool shot. Great shot, don’t listen to anyone who tells you different! EZ
Susie Wong Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Lovely photo – Congratulations!

I’m not sure this image has necessarily been merged. Cormorants often tend to make this pose for long lengths of time to dry their wings after fishing. I have seen them standing stock still for much longer than needed to blur the water in this shot.
Mark SBG Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I know nothing about taking pictures, but I wonder about the comment some have made about “moving water” as evidence of a composite picture. To me it looks like fog or mist on the water around the rocks, which is very different from the moving water images I’ve seen on this site (even moving water over and around rocks).

As I said, I know nothing about taking pictures. You photography buffs with knowledge and experience will certainly clear this up for those of us who don’t know better.
Mark SBG Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I forgot to add that, with the obvious cloud cover, fog is a possibility. But then again, I’m no more a meteorologist than I am a photographer!

By the way, Josh, it’s a gorgeous, arresting picture. Thank you for sharing it.
planet lover Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Thanks for the clarification, Susie. I was getting worried about the supposed fakeness of the shot. Birds do extend their wings to dry; I have seen them do that in my backyard!
mark Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I don’t think anyone was saying it’s not a great shot. The landscape alone is lovely.

If this is a genuine shot then it is incredible and hats off to you. Apologies for my cynicism.

Only Josh will be able to tell us though. I’m sure I can’t be the only one with suspicions for the reasons I have stated.

I’d like to reiterate I think you have done a great job with this Josh. Actually I hope I have been too hasty and am wrong.
Caroline Anderson Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Absolutely stunning !
Bobbi Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
The mirror shadow image of the cormorant is stunning as well as the whole picture. I also agree with Susie and have often seen cormorants holding their wings to dry for long enough time to get a few great shots. Congratulations!
Zookeeper Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
what a cool picture! It looks so primordial…

And as someone who’s from Southern California, where there are lots of cormorants, I can also confirm that they do someitmes stand around with their wings spread.
Claudia Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
This shot made my day. It is stunning in every way. Thank you and congrats.
Nick Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Like a Phoenix. The slight mist over the ocean and the fiery heavens. Very effective!
Stephen Oachs Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Fantastic capture!
Pauline Jones Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Lovely shot and very unusual.
Sue Gagnon Says:
December 18th, 2008 at 1:31 am
This is EXQUISITE! Everything about the photograph is perfection. Quite impressive.
Katherine Lee Strassburg Says:
December 18th, 2008 at 3:26 am
Nice shot, Josh. I don’t usually like shots that have been ‘computerized’, but this one works. It makes the cormorant look unearthly. And my special thanks for correctly identifying the bird! Perfect pose for this shorebird.
Malta Photography Says:
December 18th, 2008 at 10:05 am
great shot indeed. the colors are too saturated though.
Derek Dobbie Says:
December 18th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
A great image….however it was done.
Su Says:
December 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Admit im no photographer, but I can like or dislike a shot and this to me is special. congrats
Jason Says:
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
Stunning!
mike Says:
September 28th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
What a sunrise. I love to be there.
Su Says:
December 17th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I love the colours of this stunnong shot.
Renee Says:
December 17th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
The color is so stunning, and wow all the feedback of comments is incredible! Amazing shot!