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Vulturine Guineafowl


Vulturine Guineafowl
Photo Information
Copyright: Henry Engelbrecht (henrye) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 51 W: 2 N: 70] (268)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-06-16
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D100, Sigma 50-500 F/4-6.4, Digital ISO 250, UV
Exposure: f/8, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-10-12 15:17
Viewed: 1434
Points: 23
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Vulturine Guineafowl
(Acryllium vulturinum)

Range: Eastern Africa, Somalia, southern Ethiopia, eastern Kenya and northern Tanzania.

Subspecies: None.

Habitat: Dry savannahs and scrublands.

Description: Large, unmistakable guineafowl; the bare skin of the head and neck is bluish-gray with a band of short chestnut feathers that extends behind the eyes on the back of the head; long, white striped plumes extend from the breast and back; the upper back and breast is brilliant blue, with a black patch on the center of the chest; wings and rear half of body spotted with a long, drooping tail. Females are similar to the males, but slightly smaller and have smaller tarsal spurs. Chicks much like other guineafowl, but develop light blue underparts in a few weeks.

Status in Wild: Common and not threatened.


I took this photo at the Monte Casino Bird Gardens in Johannesburg. I posted a photo of the same type of bird on TrekEarth over a year ago, but I thought I'd share this one here.

This photo was taken at 500mm (equal 750mm on the D100 body) and I underexposed by -1.0EV to compensate for the harsh light.
electra, sAner, gerhardt, radz, pitai, red45, coasties, dantor has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To dantor: Good question...henrye 2 10-19 10:24
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Henry,
I know this funny bird. Interesting POV. Wonderful colourful animal. Exellent shot. Well done.

Martina

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-10-12 15:34]

Very good photo Henry. The details are very sharp and the colors are great. Well composed and good POV & DOF. The blue in the bg is great, but I would have cloned out the pipe (?) in the right upper corner as it's a bit disturbing. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • odin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 183 W: 1 N: 207] (1157)
  • [2005-10-12 16:09]

Hi Henry, Very nice shot of this beautyfull birds. The picture is very sharp and clear. The only bad point is for DOF, a better dof f/10 or higher probaly give a better look of bird side. But it just my opinion. And i agree with sAner, the structure in the right corner is a little bit disturbing. Well done
Sébastien

I have tried to get a decent shot of this critter on two occasions at Monte, without success. Given the setting I don't know how you managed that lovely blue sky. It's a very nice portrait and the eye detail is lovely. It contrasts nicely with the blue and blacks. Nice one.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2005-10-12 21:59]

Belle présentation,la bonne exposition apporte beaucoup d'importance au regard et au le bleu du plumage.

Félicitations pour la netteté et merci pour l'envoie.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2005-10-12 22:41]

Very nice shot!Goo eye contact!Nice POV&DOF!

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6167] (21074)
  • [2005-10-13 2:37]

What an interesting bird, Henry. It looks very strange. The colors and patterns are beautiful. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-10-13 4:29]

Wow, perfect shot! All is superb but most of all I like deep, red eye :-)

Hi Henry,
I like your shot, the colours are wonderful.
I love that blue bird against the blue sky.
I also have a photo of such a bird and I will show it soon. Thanks for the interesting note.
Bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Very nice shot!
The colour and details are excellent, great POV and very good lighting.
TFS!

Hello Henry

You have done a great job here. Good depth of colour. Sharpness and detail are spot on. Well done. Thanks.

Nice composition with great colours. Good detail especially in the head area. Perhaps an exposure at F/10 would have given better detail in the body. I agree with the previous comments regarding cloning out what seems to be the neck of another bird the upper right corner.

The photo on TE shows the same type of bird in a less conventional pose with more emphasis on the body. The superb plumage stands out in that one. Both photos are great. I wonder which one you prefer.

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