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Call me Beautiful too


Call me Beautiful too
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: 2004-10-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Sigma 170-500mm APO, Digital ISO 100, Skylight
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2004-11-18 3:31
Viewed: 1737
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I have posted a portrait of a Helmeted Guineafowl before, but have since taken this one which I like more. It was early morning and this guy was still in the shades of the trees surrounding a dam in the Somerset West Nature reserve. I used Manual Focus to get this portrait as AF has a hell of a time focusing on the head and eye of this bird, especially in low light conditions.

A large, gregarious ground-bird. Size 58-64 cm - larger than a chicken. Afrikaans: Gewone Tarentaal

The bill is short, strong and arched. It is yellowish-brown. The cere is red and runs into an area of red skin which covers the top of the head, and extends into a strange horn-like Casque, which curves backwards. There is an extensive area of greenish blue facial skin, which extends onto the upper neck as well. Between the eye and lower mandible are two "wattles" of loose skin which hang down and are greenish-blue with a reddish tip. The legs and feet are blackish.

The plumage is greyish-black, completely covered with small white spots

This is a common and familiar bird of bushveld, farmlands and open grassland areas across the country. It is usually seen in flocks, which sometimes number in the hundreds. This species spends most of the time on the ground, and birds are active and busy within the flock, males chasing each other around, scratching with their feet and pecking at morsels. Usually run away when approached, but will also fly, with rapid wingbeats. At night they roost in a tree or other tall structure.

They eat seeds, bulbs, tubers, berries, insects, snails, millipedes and ticks. Will scavenge in farmlands and around farmsteads for scraps and fallen grain.

Helmeted Guineafowl make a number of different sounds, the raucous, chattering alarm call: kek-kek-kek-krrrrrr. It also has a musical two-syllabled whistle, often heard at evening time: pittoo, pittoo, pittoo - the second note is higher and louder than the first and this call may continue repeatedly for some time.

Nesting: The Helmeted Guineafowl nests throughout the summer months. The nest is a large scrape on the ground, which is lined with dry grass; It is hidden amidst dense grass cover or under bushes. Up to 19 eggs are laid, and more than one female may lay in the same nest.


The camera settings:

Program Setting: Aperture priority
Focal Length: 500mm
F Stop: F/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/25
ISO: 100
Tripod: Yes
Flash: Yes
Reflective Panel: No
Cable release: Yes
red45, LordPotty, RAP, marhowie, AndyB, willie, Luc, christophe, PDP, Janice, extramundi, Lourens, Bernard has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Lol, I love these birds, they just look so daft. Nice colour and detail, though background is a little distracting.

Very colourful Japie , not beautiful ;-).
You pictuter is very beautiful with good details and a nice composition.
Great note.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2004-11-18 3:48]

Too much beautifull. I am not accustomed to such an amount of beauty. My human eyes human are not ready to accept such an amount of it :). But my eyes of photographer are able, them.
Great post, Japie.
Thanks

Reminds me so much of the women of Palm Springs, it should be the city bird !

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2004-11-18 4:29]

Well, this bird looks like moron ;-))) I like this photo, it make me laugh :-) Thank you Japie!

Yes, this one is beautiful, as well as clever.
It seems a wonderful painter had been at work.

Could be ugly,but kind of beautiful too (like Marge Simpson).Very good notes and a good clear portrait. Excellent.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-11-18 7:32]

He vuelto a mirar tu anterior imagen de esta ave mi amigo... y parece que la hubiera captado un niño en relación a esta... por la calidad, por su agudeza y colorido, su DOF y su composicion.
Bravo!.

I have returned to watch your previous image of this bird my friend... and seems that had caught it a boy in relation to this... by the quality, its sharpness and colorful, its DOF and composition.
Bravo!.

Japie, What a mug! How beautifully ugly ;-) Reminds me of "Mardi Gras". Party-on dude! A favorite for sure!! Great notes..Greater photo!!!

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2004-11-18 8:48]

A nice shot.
This bird has overdone it with the makeup!
Very good composition and excellent colours.
great note too.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2004-11-18 12:22]

Skrikwekkend lelik maar 'n baie goeie foto.
Good capture Japie. I don't know how you get so close to these criters. I have tried in vain Well done

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-11-18 14:40]

Ewwww, I always feel torn by these birds...the colours are so beautiful but they only compound the ugliness of the bird. It's a great shot. The lighting and pose are superb.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2004-11-18 17:22]

I agree with Lord Potty - she looks like Marge Simpson, ugly but beautiful and loveable! Your notes are great, and I find your camera useage notes very helpful too.

Well done Japie, superb mugshot of old faithfull here. Very colourfull, I still want one like this.

This is one of those shots that show a special atmosphere. Beautiful colors an details, with a perfect title. Very nice Japie. Dont work too much!

very beautiful, bird and shot haha ;o)
excelent colours and great details, very well done!

Excellent detail, Japie. Ek het so 'n klomp van die voels in die Kruger Wildtuin gesien maar die lig was maar swak en ek kon nie mooi fotos kry nie. Baiee goeie nota.

Tog te pragtig Japie!, Great composition, sharpness, detail & colour. You must have a very quick finger, because these birds are hard to capture, the head is always moving. Great advice on the Focusing in your notes, I will try it next time

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2004-12-17 23:01]

Japie, too many colors here - and that's great. Great pose and details.

Lívio

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