The Sense
We see the biggest concentration of marine mammals and sea birds on the planet. We feel the wind transporting the molting feathers of the birds. We smell the intense sweet musk perfume of the fur seals and the pungent fishy scent of the penguin guano. We hear the constant whining of the juvenile birds and the adults calling for their chicks. Our senses are taken to another level here, unlike any other experience.
This is the King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) colony of Salisbury Plain.
The conditions in this image bring a unique mood that helps us comprehend the magnitude, depth, and wilderness we share our blue planet. At this exact moment, the light penetrated through the low fog and the warm bodies' condensation lingering above the rockery.
I captured this image by creating a horizontal panorama of two images taken with the Sony A7RII mounted with the Tamron 28-200mm.
Each image is shot on 109mm, F5.6, quite a narrow depth of field we would think, but by doing so, it brings depth into the landscape and enhances the dimension of this crowd. It helps the viewer’s eye rest on the front row of adult penguins very detailed and sharp with a shutter speed of 1/6400, freeing animal movement during the panorama creation.
Moreover, these two shots had to be taken fast to manage good stitching of the panorama and consistent fixed position of the birds in between each image.