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The Acrobat


The Acrobat
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Digital ISO 200, Hoya UV-Guard (77mm)
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Southern Africa, Acrobat animals [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-06-04 20:24
Viewed: 2137
Favorites: 4 [view]
Points: 70
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis

“ceryle” is derived from the Greek word “k(rylos” meaning a halcyon or kingfisher.
”rudis” is Latin for a fencing foil. (referring to the bill)

Also know as: Da. Gråfisker, Du. Bonte IJsvogel, Fi. Kirjokalastaja, Fr. Alcyon pie, Ge. Graufischer, It. Martin pescatore bianco e nero, No. Terneisfugl, Sp. Martín pescador pío, Sw. Gråfiskare, Af. Bontvisvanger.

They are medium sized black-and-white birds with distinctive coloration. These birds can be found in Africa south of the Sahara, Nile Valley, Middle East and South Asia to China. In SA they are absent from most of Kalahari and much of dry west. Pied Kingfishers are very common resident at rivers, lakes, dams, estuaries, canals and coastal waters where they are usually in pairs but sometimes in loose groups. They hunt from a perch or by hovering over water with its body almost vertical and the bill pointed downwards. It dives with an audible splash and then beats its prey on the perch before swallowing it. Sometimes found to associate with Clawless Otter for disturbed food.

They enjoy small fish (1-2 g) but have been know to take on fish of up to 15 g in weight. It also eats crustaceans and insects.

Their breeding season is from August to November in SA, when they make a burrow (1-2 m long) excavated in earth or sandbank. The burrow has a chamber at end lined with regurgitated fish bones and scales. They normally lay 2-3white rounded eggs. The chicks are fed by both parents and sometimes 1-4 helpers.

Callie took me to this site very early to watch the sun come up. He showed me where they frequently perch or hover. I really wanted to get an in-flight similar to the one Japie posted a while ago. Unfortunately they hovered too far to get a descent photo. I took this photo just as the sun came up. I hope you like it.
Fisher, Janice, suleesia, chiliu, naki, TAZ, Signal-Womb, coasties, Violetteddy, PDP, correp01, red45, liquidsunshine, sAner, dew77, AndyB, Comandante, Luc, elihesam has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To henrye: Thank you for the kind words...gerhardt 1 10-05 17:15
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-06-04 20:31]

Gerhard, excelent capture and a beautiful composition. What a capture.

Mike
20D is just around the corner, maybe by the end of next week, we'll have the first image.
Yeeeeeeeeha.

Mike

  • Great 
  • moemf Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 116 W: 0 N: 160] (701)
  • [2005-06-04 20:53]

What a Beaut! Excellent composition, focus and detail.

Lovely!

  • Great 
  • optic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 322 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-06-04 21:03]

Fantastic shot Gerhard, very nice colours & sharpness, dof & pov are great
Ps:light is beautifull,

Regards,
Christian

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-06-05 0:39]

Gerhard, this is superb. Great catch of the bird, but I also LOVE the colours and tones of the grasses and the OOF BG and sky. The morning sunlight does wonders to this photo. It is so artistic, thank you.

a winning shot in my book! speechless! congrats.

Superb shot!
Excellent comsition,beautiful bird.
TFS!

Beautiful, Gerhard.
Like a painting, I like it very much.
The colours are fantastic, well composed, great sharpness and very good POV.
Excellent work, my friend.

  • Great 
  • naki Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 382 W: 27 N: 5] (40)
  • [2005-06-05 2:28]

Excellent colours of sunrise Gerhard. Wonderful pose you captured. Very good details and finally a beautiful composition.
Very well done.
Thanks for sharing.

Superb capture Gerhard, excellent pose and composition. I love your work its so varied and such a high standard. Very good job.

Magnifique photo Gerhard !
Felicitations j'aime beaucoup.
Nico.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2005-06-05 5:33]

Belle présentation, la pose de l'oiseau et l'exposition sont parfaits.

Félicitations pour les belles couleurs du Bg !

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 451 W: 0 N: 975] (8383)
  • [2005-06-05 5:42]

Artistic portrait of this beautiful kingfisher.
This bird indeed looks like a artist. I like the branches in this composition.
Thanks for sharing.

Zeno.

Magnificent.... Congrats on an awesome capture. What is perfect in this shot E V E R Y T H I N G !! Thanks.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2005-06-05 6:32]

Excellent shot,i have seen many times these King fisher were action,so fast.You got them in action,Well captured shot.

Wow! Superb colors, excellent light and fantastic details. Great work!
TFS.

This is an excellent capture Gerhard! a superb pose with the early lights effect dramatic..The composition, framing, sharpness and details are all top-notch..This is great! Very well done my friend! PT
Post Script: It must be nice having a fellow photographer close by..I envy you.

Fabulous shot! Colours, details, composition, DOF, lighting, etc... they are all perfect. Great work!

Perfect colors and lighting, you caught it in a nice position, well done

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-06-05 12:11]

Hello Gerhard, this is a superb shot. Loads of impact and the lighting is of the best kind. The composition is very neat too. I really love it. TFS.

Hello Gerhard
That's a great great shot and a beautifull beautifull picture
TFS

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-06-05 13:19]

Hi Gerhard!
Unique shot! Bird is superb. Its pose is superb. Warm light is superb. Composition is superb. Moment is superb. Quality is superb. Note also. Another picture full of African soul!

  • Great 
  • CTP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 647 W: 6 N: 1106] (3191)
  • [2005-06-05 13:40]

Another Great shot Gerhard.Detail,sharpness,DOF and colors looks awesome.TFS.Did you see my New Gator photo? Check it out:)
CT

Beautiful action shot of the Kingfisher Gerhard. Wonderful color on your background. It's a portrait not justa picture. Thanks for sharing, it's a keeper

Jack

Beautiful shot!

Nice shot Gerhard,
Well captured, good detail and colours. Wonderful timing and great composition
Thanks for posting

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-06-06 2:29]

Hello Gerhard!
Amazing photo.Moment you caught,DOF,details,lighting,BG and composition are excellent.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2005-06-06 3:02]

Hello Gerhard,
This is quite simply stunning!
I love the colourful background,the composition and details are excellent.
Superb,well done.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-06-06 3:36]

Bel oiseau bien mis en valeur dans cette composition photographique de qualité. Très jolies couleurs, bon point de vue et bonne netteté.
Wonderful composition, interesting & well done !!!

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-06-06 4:49]

Hi Gerhard,

This is superb, really superb. Great pose, fantastic composition, well balanced, wonderful colors, FANTASTIC BG, good POV & DOF and razorsharp details. Very well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Hello Gerhard!
This really wonderful acrobat.I liked DOF,details and composition very much.Thanks for sharing.

Very eyecatching photo, especially with just the 4 basic colours: Black, white, blue, brown. Great composition and a perfect moment to press the shutter!
Excellent work.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-06-11 0:59]

Hello Gerhard!
Personal assessment of the photo: excellent. Wonderfull composition. Perfect pose and light.
Very strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you very much for sharing.
Have a good weekend!

Hi Dear Gerhard!
glad to see you after a long time,I miss you and your works a lot really,and now I start for you with this one in your great admirable gallery and this one is excellent,amazing result,Congratulation,I can look at the shot for hours,great use of DOF and skilfully captured and freezed the bird in a best way,beautiful birds,great note as always I remembered:)
Nicely done my Friend
Best Regards
M

Great foto! Dis tyd dat ek weer teruggaan Marievale toe......

I really like the way you composed the shot. All the elements fit very nicely into the frame.

beautiful pic, great landscape, TFS Ori

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