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Love, love me do


Love, love me do
Photo Information
Copyright: Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1396 W: 4 N: 2285] (7377)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-10-09
Categories: Birds
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC H9, Digital ISO 100
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Funny Faces, Photos with titles of songs(2), Loot's Favourites 1, Birds of South Africa 3, Kruger National Park 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-11-03 8:34
Viewed: 1316
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 102
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Helmeted Guineafowl / Numida meleagris

It is really difficult to decide which of the shots taken on our Kruger Park trip I must share with you next as they are all so special to me, and each one has a story behind the photo to be told.

On our first day in the park I was really fortunate to get a great birthday present with all the photographic opportunities coming my way. I was so exited with all the pictures I took and even flattened the battery by looking at all the lovelies on the camera's monitor time and time again, everytime I thought I have taken a good shot. You must remember this was the first time for me to take photos in the Kruger and I was as excited as a kid getting an ice-cream for good behaviour.

As I told you in my previous posting, I was sitting in the backseat, taking photos while Loot did all the driving. Every now and again I would pop from behind, leaning over the front seat to show my next capture, and my next capture and my next capture. Poor Loot! I think he was getting really tired of seeing my camera monitor for the 100th time.

I took the most beautiful photos at the Sunset dam of a group of Guineafowls. In groups and as individuals. Once again the camera came forward pushed under Loot's nose to "look and see". Loot reminded me that if the battery I have in my camera goes flat, I would not be able to take any more until it has been reloaded. He told me that we could have a look at it at nighttime once we returned to the Bed and Breakfast where we were staying at that night. He did however mention that what he could see looked good, and that it would make a nice portrait if the focus and everything was ok.

I was so thrilled with my shots of the day and could not wait to hear what Loot had thought about my photographs taken. When he says a photo is good, it must me good. While looking at the photos I told Loot that he could delete the 3rd photo as the specific one was no good. Loot worked through the menu to delete the image, but in a moments lapse he automatically selected the functions in the way his own camera works and "POOF" – everything was gone. The menu message displayed "No images". All the photos I've captured on my first day in the Kruger were gone.

Now surely, I don't think I have to tell you how the expression of satisfaction on Loot's face suddenly turned into one of utter disbelief and total disappointment. Yes, I was also disappointed, but it would not help bring the photos back if I would throw a tantrum or be sour faced and ruin the rest of our holiday. It can happen to the best of us. It was gone, and I told him that I am sure we will get the same kind of opportunities or even better with the same birds or animals that I have lost those images of.

And here it is. It is a strange bird, but isn't it lovely, isn't it just beautiful?

I do not know the difference between a male and a female of this species, but judging by the fact that male birds are normally the more colourful specimen then this is possibly a male. This is a quote I read in a book about these fowls.

"Guineafowls look like fussy ladies holding their skirts up out of the dust as they run with their wings raised to form a characteristic arch over the back, a posture exaggerated in displays between members of a flock.

When pursued, they can run very fast, giving their staccato alarm call. If pressed harder, the birds take off with rapidly whirring wings, gliding intermittently until they are out of danger. They then glide to the ground, run a little further, and gather into a tight flock."

Taken from: Animals of the Kruger Park and Lowveld - Heritage Publishing.

I personally like an image taken from the front, especially of birds. It just gives a total different view and perspective of the object. I am really chuffed at this image, and would also place it with my collection of personal favourites.

I just end by saying that all ended well, because on our return Loot took the memory stick to the camera shop and they recovered all my "deleted images", which I will also post in the future. Thanks Loot because if the images were not deleted on the first day, I might not have thrived to seek the same opportunities and I would not have captured this neat bird. Don't you agree?

I hope you enjoy looking at this photo as much as I took pleasure in taking it.
greghume, sranjan, PeterZ, pvs, eng55, ellis49, vanderschelden, nglen, Alex99, Janice, bahadir, Hil, siggi, Adanac, boreocypriensis, sandpiper2, haraprasan, Heaven, kmr13777, manyee, carper, Silvio2006, albert, pilonm, Evelynn, xTauruSx, SelenE, gracious, marhowie, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Anna,
Another excellent colorful shot by you. Amazing excellence reflects in the photograph like Nat Geo type. Cheers.TFS.
Regards-Subhash
PS: How is dear friend Loot?

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2008-11-03 8:45]

Hi Anna,

A nice frontal capture of this chicken,how we used to call them when we saw them in the park,it almost looks like I am looking in the mirror,still red in the face after the burning SA sun of the last few weeks and the blue of the cold after my returnal in sweden this week,well captured with superb colors and details and a good oof BG,regards,

Paul

ps since I have made similar mistakes with deleting good pictures I have always have enough batteries and cards (backup) with me so I can delete the bad captures on another time

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1151 W: 32 N: 1192] (3654)
  • [2008-11-03 8:48]

Hi Anna,
Very nice portrait.Sharpness,details,colors and composition are wonderful.Excellent work!
Thanks for posting..

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2398 W: 94 N: 5543] (17640)
  • [2008-11-03 8:49]

Hello Anna,
Wonderful story you told us. In the early days we were going on our holidays just to see the beauty and remember the most remarkable things. Now want it all registrated by our camera.
This frontal POV is marvelous. The sharp details and DOF are really perfect. Fantastic colours, composition and BG.
Funny title, but I was a Rolling Stone fan.
Kind regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 10 N: 738] (3210)
  • [2008-11-03 8:50]

Merhaba Anna,
Bu kadar sevimli bir hayvan böyle! Özellikle kırmızı ve mavi ağırlıklı renklerle birlikte tüylerin ve diğer ayrıntıların mükemmel bir işçilikle ortaya konduğu çok sevimli bir kare olmuş. Elinize sağlık. Yeni çalışmalarınızda görüşmek dileği ile.
Hoşçakal.

Hüseyin

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2008-11-03 8:53]

Hi Anna,very fantastic portrait,remember me the old stars of movie world...ehehe...the colors are fantastics,the details are impressives,very very nice idea and perfect realisaiton,thanks a lot to show us this beauty,have a nice day,Luciano

I agree, Anna, only a mother can love a face like that!
Great portrait, colors are so natural, picture is sharp! Well done!
Peter

Hi Anna,
this is a very nice picture of ugly bird who only a mother could love :-)OK, it's quite cute in some way.
The picture is well composed with a nice POV and have a lot of details. The colours are amazing.

Poor Loot who have to look on your camera monitor the whole day, but I know he is afraid to spend time in the dogbox. ;-)
I hope he is doing well after the surgery, send my best to him.Best Regards
Gert

Hello Anna,
Definitely an impressive photo. I'm really surprised as this is definitely a close encounter, taken into account your focal length.
Secondly these birds are quite shy and very busy. But you managed
to provide a technically outstanding image in terms of sharpness and depth of field.
So, an extraordinary and superb photo in my opinion.
Everything is perfect however I want to finish with a 'tip':
if you crop your photo to the right with 1 cm than you'll get a perfect symmetry. And maybe it would enhance the composition of this extraordinary image.
Finally about the lost files on your flash memory card.
There's software to restore your data. It's worth trying even if you used your card again after the deletion. An example is Undelete 2009.
Thanks for sharing
Annick

amzingly sharp pic, I remember chasing them in the Cape without success like yours, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2008-11-03 10:37]

Hi Anna. I just love the look on its face as to say what are you looking at. You have captured this one with sharp focusing and fine detail. with such bright colours. a nice POV/DOF. well done TFS.
Nick..
Ps enjoyed the notes.

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  • pirate Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 473 W: 99 N: 624] (3215)
  • [2008-11-03 10:42]

Hi Anna
wonderfull portrait bird
amazing sharpness and just perfect dof with nice bg, great colours too
tfs
tom

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  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2008-11-03 11:14]

Oh Yes, I do love him!! Isn't he a darling? I just love his eye-lashes, and seeing at how he is looking at ME- I think he loves me too!!

Awesome shot Anna - I have seen these birds and they are just so strange, and I agree with your notes about them - "fussy ladies holding their skirts up out of the dust."

TFS
Janice

So pleased you got your Day 1 photos back!!! I deleted a whole day of photos last year - and the photos I took that day were the BEST I had ever taken!! I never knew until I came home from holiday and checked my external hard drive and found out I hadn't saved them on it. I have a software that can recover them, but I'd used the card over and over since and all were gone.

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3586 W: 143 N: 5690] (18601)
  • [2008-11-03 11:16]

Hi, dear Anna.
This is really exceptional work. Pictured model as well as quality of this portrait work are outstanding. It is not so easy to shoot bird at direct POV. However, you managed to preserve all charming details of the bird face with unbelievable exactness. Sharpness of the image, colours of the shot are ultimate and cannot be more rich and wonderful. 3D-effect from the picture is fantastic too. I feel myself next to this beauty (of course in my room). Bravo and many thanks for lovely story too.
Alexei.

A beautiful Helmeted Guineafowl portrait Anna. Superb in all aspects. TFS and regards,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 705 W: 13 N: 1405] (5027)
  • [2008-11-03 11:29]

Hi Anna,

Fabulous shot of the Guineafowl.
I really like the central composition with the frontal POV, as the bird itself add all the impact the shot needs.
Very good details and excellent colours and light.
Lovely eye contact too.
I've added it to my funny faces theme where she fits in beautifully.

Hil

Sure - I love you - colourful bird, you are realy cute!
Hi Anna, what a shot - this guy is lovely, unbelievable colours, just perfect, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

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  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1380 W: 56 N: 4759] (16364)
  • [2008-11-03 13:12]

Hello Anna,
Great shot and what an unusual bird. Well composed with great sharpness on a good background. This is a really original presentation.
Regards Siggi

Great portrait! And humours!

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  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2008-11-03 18:47]

Hello Anna,
What a bright and colorful portrait you have captured of this Guineafowl, with stunning details. They have a face only another Guineafowl could love in my opinion though. Thanks for sharing this nice image with us Anna.
Rick

Hi Anna, a real beauty indeed:) What a fine facial expression. You captured it from a fine frontal POV. Details, colours and sharpness are excellent. TFS this fine image my friend!
Hope Loot is better now!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Anna - This is a very good photo. I would give my front teeth to have lashes like this Guineafowl -This photo cleary shows how close you can get to nature in the Kruger Park.
Well done.
Betsie

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  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-11-04 3:12]

Hello Anna, Perfect shot and what a superb view. Good composition. Brilliant clarity. As Subhash said -> How is our friend Loot?
Ganesh

Hi Anna

Great story and a familiar one, I have also accidently deleted an entire days capture. These days I wait till they are all safely uploaded onto the computer before hitting gthe delete button.

Great portrait of this guinea fowl, ugly yet beautiful. Great colours, sharpness and composition.

I hope Loot is recovering well, please pass on my best wishes to him; he's a lucky man tp have such a wonderful wife as you!!

Chris

Hi Anna,
A lovely captured portrait of the Guineafowl. Superb sharp details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

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  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1112 W: 23 N: 3660] (13089)
  • [2008-11-04 10:00]

Hi Anna,
a great close up portrait, love the colours and the DOF and details are excellent - well done!
Paul

Hi Anna,

Good frontal close up, pov and dof, great sharpness and beayiful colours.

Gert

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  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 811 W: 108 N: 1736] (6060)
  • [2008-11-04 23:03]

Hi Anna!

Oh, Anna, what are you doing with me? Is that monster jumping at me in the next second? Do you want me to have nightmares? Or do you want me to debate whether this is beautiful or ugly?

Well, you have reached what is important in photography: you have catched the spectator's fancy, awakened emotions and somehow provoked. To be serious, the picture is fabulous, showing great details and spectacular colours. Beside what I have mentioned before, it's also the frontal point of view that makes this picture an outstanding one.

Kind regards

Markus

This is an extremely beautiful capture Anna!! Excellent colors, detail and exposure. The proximity to the bird makes it more interesting. Thank you for the ellaborate note as well .. you took us along on your journy for a short while :)

TFS

Kirti

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  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-11-05 13:36]

Hi Anna,
a fab shot of this Guinea Fowl!
The sharpness is excellent!
Look at those eye-lashes! :-)
Very good composition.
Great POV.

Well done,
Joe

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  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3824 W: 190 N: 11393] (35107)
  • [2008-11-06 6:47]

Hello Anna,
A really fine sharp and detailed frontal head-and-neck portrait of what I guess is a male Helmeted Guineafowl.
The technical details, colours and OOF natural contrasting BG contribute to make this a first class and fascinating image.
Thanks for sharing this 'beauty'
Regards,
Ivan

Hello Anna

I think I have seen some ladies all dolled up like this.
A wonderful POV to capture this avian beauty.
Lovely eye contact,with rich well saturated colours.
Excellent sharp focus and details.
TFS

Wolf

hello anna,
a beautiful and colorful portait, the pov is very good, the colors look beautiful and the details of the plumage are great, well composed shot,
tfs & regards
pankaj

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  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6166] (21070)
  • [2008-11-08 13:28]

Hi Anna,
As usual, I always relish the stories that you and Loot tell behind your pictures.
Both of you are such eloquent torytellers, and infinitely entertaining.
You certain exhibited examplary self-restraint and a commendable positive attitude at the moment of the "accident".
In any case, this is a wonderful shot.
It is so crisp, I thinkt his guinea fowl is going to jump out of the screen and peck me on the nose.
I love that horn thing on the head, and those colorful wattles.
What a crisp and wonderful image.
TFS. : )

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  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2008-11-08 23:53]

it's a very nice bird Anna,
the pov is nice, you have an ey contact with him and I like the good sharpnes and fantastic colours and the good dof, fine photojob I like it, have a good sunday.
regard jaap

mpravo anna....

Ciao Anna, superb portrait with fantastic colors, fine details and great sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Anna,
This photo is really a special one !!
Very nice pose, splendid details and colours
I like the story too!
TFS
Kind regards
Albert

Oh my! That is quite a story. I'm so glad you retrieved your photos. There are a few that I would like to retrieve... but alas they are gone for good.

I like this shot a lot. Its details are so sharp and the colors so rich. The close crop and frontal view make for a strong impact. Nice work.

TFS
Evelynn : )

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  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2008-11-17 11:58]

Incredible bird! Hello Anna and thanks for posting this shot! The colors are so vivid and the bird is so sharp it seems that it will pop out of the screen, well done!

Mario

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  • Tabib Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 147 W: 5 N: 151] (720)
  • [2008-11-18 1:04]

Hi Anna,
What can I say to describe this?
Amazing Portraiture Shot!!

Hello Anna again:) another lovely shot of this beutiful Helmeted Guineafowl. Details, composition and presentation are super as usual.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

Hola Anna,
Un retrato fuera de lo común, con la gallina de Guinea con el pico apuntando hacia la cámara, le dan una apariencia un poco loca. Además de la perspectiva me gusta mucho la nitidez que tiene y el colorido intenso y en su punto justo. Buen trabajo
Saludos
Hernán

Hello Anna,

I missed this one. Superb portrait of this Guineafowl. A beautiful Miss. Excellent sharpness. Wonderful colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

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  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2008-11-21 6:21]

Hi Anna,
What a colorful portrait! This bird has a striking plumage. Very good focus, sharpness and details. I like the background and the position of the bird in the frame. TFS.
All the best,
Selen

Hello to my distance friend from S.Africa!!
Thank you for sharing such cute and handsome fellow with so rich in colouration!
the head-on view in closeness is incredible with that perfect sharpness, good lighting, warm colour and details
I appreciated all your works of nature from your part of the world and send my warmest regards to Loot as well!
take good care and a hug from NZ
Tony

Hi Anna,
Wow color & outstanding details, and I like the head-on POV/pose here.
Nicely seen from the blurred BG, and well composed off-center left..
Great title to, the Beatles are my all time favs :)
Howard

Dear Anna,
an intensely capturing bird's portrait.
Fine details showing all its bizarre structures.
Incredible combination of bright and drab colours in perfect balance. Great picture, seen and presented in a masterly way. Thank you!
With all my best wishes!
Peter

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  • Recato (128)
  • [2009-02-17 4:26]

The colors on this bird is very nice. Very good close-up!

Hi Anna,
What a striking visage!
So many colours,textures and patterns.
I've only just really started to look through your photo pages and I'm so impressed by the many awesome shots you've taken.
I'd like to critique them all,but I doubt I'd ever catch up.
Nice work anyway.
TFS & Cheers,
Steve

Very colorful portrait. What a great story, Anna. I'm very glad you were able to recover the images and make such important contributions to TN.
Regards,
Greg

amazing blue and red colors on its head
i like the flat BG
excellent portrait!

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