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What DID I step in?


What DID I step in?
Photo Information
Copyright: Callie de Wet (Callie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1132 W: 105 N: 2609] (7531)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-12
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 120-300 F2.8
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/500 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): African Raptors [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-21 9:07
Viewed: 1866
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The JUST MISSED picture can be seen HERE . There you can see him stepping down the rock, & here it looks as if he is contemplating what he stepped into. This is the Nearly Missed picture of the Bateleur - Terathopius ecaudatus - 55-70 cm. The fact that he stepped down from the top rock made it possible to see the raised wings completely in this picture, as the wing got amputated in the first picture. This is an unmistakable and striking eagle, mostly black, russet and white, with a red cere & feet. It is a sub-adult, some of the black plumage is already emerging through the brown feathers, & the green cere has already turned into red. My lens’ front optic is 107 mm, there is no warm-up filter available in this size, otherwise I would have used it. Polarizers work at 90º to the sun, so it was not an option here either. Being noon, both shadow and highlights are harsh, and I was also out of reach of the flash, so what you see is very much what you get.
This waterhole has the quaint name of Cubitje Quab & it lies 12 km north of Nossob. The bateleurs come everyday around noon to drink or bath at this waterhole. I missed the arrival and departure of the adults both times we were there, & catching them here is still on my wishlist – so much so that I tried to get accommodation for March, but the rest camps are full! I Hope that this picture, together with yesterday’s picture, illustrate the concept of Just Missed to Nearly Missed. The actual time between the two shots were from 43.8 sec to 44.8 sec – 1 second to realign and shoot!

SHOOTING DETAILS
Venue – Nossob Road, KTFP
Date 8 December 2004
Time 12h39Camera - Nikon D70
ISO 200 & -0,7 EV.
Sigma 120-300 F2.8 APO USM & 2X converter
Filter – None
Focal length - 550 mm.
Exposure mode - Aperture Priority – 1/1 500 @ F10
Flash – None
Support – Wimberley Head on Camesteady Car window rest.
PP – no cropping;.; Selective colour; Levels; Hue/Saturation; S/H; USM; reduced to Site size.
red45, Luc, Fisher, carper, willie, PDP, pompey, marhowie, gerhardt, jhm, extramundi, christophe, Andrieux has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jhm: DankieCallie 1 01-22 09:03
To NitzanCK: ThanksCallie 1 01-22 08:31
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-01-21 9:09]

Looks better :-) I like its pose and this time nothing cut off :-) As I wrote before - I like desert/African mood of the picture.

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-01-21 10:10]

I don't know if you noticed, he has a talon missing. Excelent view, Callie. The composition is well done and I still find it comical, maybe because of the title. :)

Mike

  • Good 
  • moemf Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 116 W: 0 N: 160] (701)
  • [2005-01-21 10:10]

To continue on your previous note - it is a pity (you just missed it!) he is'nt looking up at you with this same pose. I will be passing through there in March; I will try to get that shot for you.

  • Good 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2005-01-21 10:15]

I accidentally wrote the critique under moemf's name, we share a PC. Mentioned it to him. He shares my sentiments - and I will be the one going for that shot

He looks angry. maybe because he lost his lunch ?? good picture, even under not so good circunstances.

This is much better!
Again-the pose is very nice and the sharpness is excellent!
Nice DOF and composition

Good work Callie
Well done

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2005-01-21 13:04]

They say the more you practise, the luckier you get. Well there is no luck in this shot. Good work Callie

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-01-21 15:14]

Superb pose, it looks like a model for a sculpture. Very nice shot under what looks like hard conditions to get the detail of the shaded areas. Great work Callie :-)

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 146 W: 4 N: 745] (2768)
  • [2005-01-21 15:25]

So you were just teasing us yesterday, with the other Bateleur picture. This one is just great, it must be one of the most photogenic of raptors, the shape of this bird is beautiful.
The problems you had with this picture, due to the conditions described, make this an even better photo.
At the risk of repeating myself, 'good note' as always with your pictures.
Well captured.

Callie, Great title..Enjoyed reading about your shooting details..Yes, you have illustrated the concept of just missed to nearly missed quite well. Thanx!

You deserve points just for being there at the right time. This majestic creature is very high on my wishlist. I have only seen them in captivity. Great pose and excellent work in these harsh conditions.

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 649 W: 0 N: 178] (628)
  • [2005-01-22 2:40]
  • [+]

Hier zie ik de vleugels volledig Callie, ik begrijp hier enkele kritieken niet goed, maar ieder zijn mening. Ik vind deze wel mooi en waar deze vogel zal instappen, dit is maar de vraag, de titel geeft ook een vraagteken.
Mooi werk Callie, verder doen en zeker mooi weekend uit een relatief koud Vlaanderen.
John.

What a beautiful bird, nice pose you got here. Maybe you could get some more detail if you used shadows and highlights insteead of levles. Nice shot, also the the "just missed", sorry I dont have time to comment them all. Thanks for posting.

nothing to say, beautiful pose of the bird, Very great shot Callie
In a friendly way Christophe

Very nice Callie.
I like the colours in the wings,
Very good pose and sharpness.
Very wll done.

Congrats to you well-earned 4000 points.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2005-01-23 13:22]

Superb shot,nearmiss shot got good details too.This is complete.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-01-25 15:53]

What a pose, I think he knows what he stepped in and he is not happy about it.

This is a wonderful composition and the natural feel of the shot is great. This is how one would see and experience it in nature and not in a captive environment.

Very well done and thanks for posting.

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