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Balancing Act


Balancing Act
Photo Information
Copyright: Ben Broughton (Lourens) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 183 W: 0 N: 316] (1136)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-09-12
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 170-500mm APO
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/800 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2004-09-20 14:45
Viewed: 1297
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Wattled Plover (Vanellus senegallus) (Lelkiewiet)

The Wattled Plover is quite a large bird measuring about 35cm in lenth. It is a common resident in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Northern and eastern regions of South Africa.
Identification: Iris is lemon yellow, bill is yellow with black tip, lappets and eye-ring yellow. Forehead wattle red to orange and legs and feet yellow. The white forecrown, red and yellow wattles and streaked nek are diagnostic. The rest of the body is greyish brown.

Habitat: Grassveld along streams and vleis.

Food: Insects and some grass seed.

I caught this plover while he was doing a balancing act on one leg.

Shooting Data: Nikon D70; Sigma 170 - 500mm set at 400mm. I used RAW (NEF) setting in camera and postprocessed in Photoshop. Due to the large files I found it rather time consuming and I am not sure if it is relly worth all the trouble.
marhowie, RAP, Signal-Womb, japie, PDP has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To japie: "Leg Injury"Lourens 2 09-22 07:32
To japie: "Leg Injury"Lourens 1 09-21 13:53
To Signal-Womb: Missing legLourens 1 09-21 13:51
To gerhardt: "blur"Lourens 2 09-20 16:08
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Critiques [Translate]

Wat die ....? Ben ek het nog nie so iets gesien nie. Die foto is uitstekend. Details ongelooflik skerp. Sy houding spreek boekdele. Fantasties. Wat gebruik jy om die agtergrond te "blur"?

This time fill flash worked very well!!
Stunning details and beautiful light.
I wish you had cropped not so closer to the shadow, for the rest is perfect, and the subject too. Good one!

Ben, What an interesting looking bird this Wattled Plover. You've shown the viewer in great perspective & detail the unique anatomical structures of head & beak. The "balancing act" & head turn make it come togehter very well for you..thanx for the notes also.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-09-20 16:11]

Una nueva gran captura Ben.
Excelente agudeza, con hermosos colores y efecto de sombras.
Perfecto DOF y encuadre.

A new great capture Ben.
Excellent sharpness, with beautiful colors and effect of shades.
Perfect DOF and frame.

Very nice shot Ben and one that compels us to read the footnote on that missing leg. Great sharpness to resolve the plumage. Great stuff.

Fabuleux cliché! Le détail est impressionnant. Même l'ombre de cet oiseaux fait ressortir des détails qui peut-être nous aurait échappés. On dirait presque qu'il t'attendait pour poser. Merci. Rudy.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-09-21 3:56]
  • [+]

Most creatures in nature are survivors and this posting clearly shows that. It is sad because in all probability it is a human artifact that caused the injury. The image quality is superb and I really like this shot. Baie dankie

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-09-21 10:44]

Fantastic shot Ben, has lot's of depth, the details are exceptional and the colours rich adn warm - I like it alot. Congratulations and thanks for posting.

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