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Looking back at 2004


Looking back at 2004
Photo Information
Copyright: Japie Venter (japie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-12-19
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Sigma 170-500mm APO, Digital ISO 400, Skylight
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Birds of Southern Africa, Predaceous birds - Aves predadoras [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-12-26 3:01
Viewed: 1166
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Looking back at 2004. The year 2004 was a busy one for me and I’m sure for most of you as well. I find it to be good practice to look back at a year gone past, at both good and bad. Just think how things would have been if we did not learn our past. Nelson Mandela said that we have to know our past to know where we are going to. One of the highlights in my year was the creation of this site! Now my pictures have found a home which I am proud of building with all my friends here on TN

This is the Common (Steppe) Buzzard (Roberts: 149)

It is a large brown bird of prey. Size 45-50cm - a bit smaller than a Guineafowl. Afrikaans: Bruinjakkalsvoel

As with other birds of prey, the bill is short with a sharp, hooked tip to the upper mandible. The bill is black, and the cere, feet and legs are yellow. The eye is brown.

As with some other raptors, the plumage color varies quite a bit. Most birds are light brown, with white mottling on the underparts. It is quite stocky, with a large looking head.

Other birds can be very dark brown, or much more whitish, but there is almost always a whitish band across the breast, where the dark mottling is more sparse. This band, combined with the reddish-brown tail and unfeathered legs help identify this species.

This is a common summer migrant, which is found throughout the country. It is found in most habitat types, but prefers open areas ie grasslands, farmland and more open bushveld as opposed to thickly wooded areas. It is usually seen perched on a prominent post - such as a telephone pole, or soaring in tight circles. It eats mainly insects, but also rodents, small birds, lizards and frogs.

The Steppe Buzzard is a migrant from Europe and Asia

It is mostly silent in South Africa, but may utter a high mewing kee-ooo.

The camera settings:

Program Setting: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 500mm
F Stop: F/9
Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec
ISO: 400
Tripod: No
Flash: Off Camera TTL.
Reflective Panel: No
Cable release: No
White Balance: Cloudy
Robbrown, red45, radz, Luc, Lourens, mogens-j, Callie, rlortie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Arjuna: Workshopjapie 1 12-27 23:42
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Critiques [Translate]

Good hand held shot Japie for such a long lens, loooks like it was taken on an overcast day taking away a little of the sparkle out of it, but it is still a very good capture well done.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2816 W: 75 N: 7977] (26975)
  • [2004-12-26 6:06]

Good shot Japie! I like subject, composition, details. Very good quality for handheld and long lens. I agree with you - creation of TN was one of brighter points of past year!

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 620 W: 11 N: 625] (3390)
  • [2004-12-26 10:11]

Cool pic ,you got nice one with handheld.Very well written note.

Very good Japie.
Great pose and details.
Handheld 1/200 sec, strong as usual ;-)
Very well done.

Uitstekende foto, Japie. Lyk so 'n statige voel. Great shot.

What a great capture Japie - he relly looks great. Very sharp and great, soft colours - really a great job.

Composition: ****
Sharpness: ****
Color: ****
DOF: **
POV: ****
Note: ***

Nice shot, focus a bit soft.
TFS.

Hi Japie
One on my wishlist now for some years - they just never co=opperate.
I like the "looking back" - I look back to see if you look back to see is I look back to see if you are looking back at me - or something like that went the song from long ago!
Retrospect is an exact science, so it is good t be reminded to look back. One really nice thing this year manifested was meeting you and Gerhard in person.
Very nice POV, could CS not brig out more detail in S/H?

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2004-12-27 10:33]

Very nice title and buzzard Japie.
Good capture. Well done

hey, his head is on the wrong side :D
nice shot,Japie!good colours and composition, details are good too.don't see those much around here,sometimes in summer they ar flying above some fields,beautiful to see them!

Great post, Japie.
No joke today. I am really impressed.
I particularly like this tangle of branches to the foreground. The attitude of the bird is impressive. Your heading is appropriate perfectly for the image.
Me also, I am proud of building this home with you and all the others friends who attend TrekNature.
Thanks
I dared a WS.

I'm impressed! 500mm focal length without tripod or image stabilization device is a "tour de force". Considering this the sharpness is very good (could be improved in PP with unsharp mask). I like the composition.
Good note.

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