Dr Edward Goldenberg
September 2026 - blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii)
Original
About the Image(s)
The blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) is a striking marine seabird famous for its vibrant, bright blue feet and comical courtship dances. The name "booby" comes from the Spanish word bobo, meaning foolish or clownish, because of their awkward, clumsy waddling when walking on land. [1] The brilliant blue color of their feet comes from carotenoid pigments found in their fresh fish diet. Brighter, more intense blue feet indicate a healthier, well-fed bird, making them more attractive to potential mates. During courtship, the male performs a high-stepping, comical "foot-rocking" march, lifting his bright blue feet alternately to show them off to the female.
Sony DSC-RX10M4
iso 100; 139 mm; f4; 1/320
4 comments posted
If you think their walking or waddling gate is clownish, they're even more clownish when the come in for a landing. That said, your image of this booby group is well exposed, well-centered, well focused and clear. Colors are crisp. It's a nice shot. the sky in your image is somewhat washed-out as it could have been sharper. I usually compensate at -.3EV and that helps somewhat, but on a good day where the sun is bright, as apparently this day was, compensation would not necessarily have, been enough, and this is where a graduated neutral density works best, darkening the sky a bit more to give the clouds more definition. I assume your metering was pattern. I'm not sure whether center-weighted average would have darkened the clouds without an ND filter. I suppose you would have had to take a couple of shots to see what worked best. Regardless, you still have a great shot. Posted: 09/01/2026 11:51:03
Tom and Alan does this look better. Alan when you are shooting from a zodiac I don't think your approach is possible. Thank you for the comments Posted: 09/02/2026 10:20:18
I certainly does look better. But the objective is take the shot right from the get-go and not manipulate it after the fact. Knowing that you took the shot from a zodiac, adds to my compliment because you shot it hand-held from a moving cart. And, sure it is possible to get the shot from a zodiac. I've had tons of experience in shooting from a zodiac, and in fact, my image this month was also shot from a zodiac. Compensating and putting on a filter is no big deal. I generally shoot with a graduated ND filter in bright sunlight to darken the sky. But you can also get the same effect with a polarizer, that you can also set to your lens once you evaluate the sun, even in a zodiac. Posted: 09/02/2026 10:28:00
I like the composition, especially that most of them are looking in the same direction. I disagree a bit with Alan I don't think it's well focussed. Some of them are soft. The rocking the back is definitely out of focus, not far away to get blurred. Posted: 09/02/2026 09:38:03