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A Long Way Down


A Long Way Down
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1205 W: 0 N: 4610] (13714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2002-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1vHS, Canon EF 300mm f2.8 USM IS, Fuji Provia 100
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-06-04 8:07
Viewed: 1076
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is another shot from my second visit to Antartica. I think I took this shot shortly before I took the other shot of Adeles. It was taken from a zodiac and was hand held.

Adelie penguins are the smallest of the penguins living on the Antarctica continent. They are about 28 inches (70 cm) tall and weigh about 8 to 9 lbs. (4 kilogram). Adelie penguins were named after the wife of a French explorer in the 1830s. These penguins nest and breed on the rocky, ice-free beaches in large colonies of ten thousands of birds. There are over 2.5 million breeding pairs living in the Antarctica region.

These penguins are one of the stiff-tailed penguins with long tail feathers that drags the ground when they walk. They have a white belly with a black head and back. They have a white ring around the eye. Feathers cover most of the short beak. They are powerful swimmers and can jump straight out of the water onto the land. They often move on the land by sledding down hills on their bellies.

Adelies build their nests of pebbles on the rocky beaches of Antarctica. After bonding and mating, the female lays 2 eggs in the nest. The male then takes over the job of keeping the egg warm by holding it on the tops of his feet or laying on the egg in the nest. The female goes to feed and returns in three weeks to help with the chicks. When parents return with food for the chicks it will run from the chicks making the chicks chase and catch them for the food. Often only one chick will survive. Their chicks grow the fastest of all penguins.

Adelie penguins have to defend their nests from other penguins who try to steal pebbles, stones, and other nest building materials. They don't drink water but eat snow. They have a gland in their nose that takes the salt out of the ocean water that they swallow when catching fish and eating fish while in the water.
Debz, angybone, PaulH, ramthakur, nglen, stevkds, deblink, gypsygirl58, JPlumb, SelenE, uleko, delic, Proframe, pilonm has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Proframe: ThanksJamesp 1 06-06 11:18
To ramthakur: ZodiacJamesp 1 06-05 04:23
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Bufo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 72 N: 1007] (4233)
  • [2007-06-04 8:47]

Hi James,
wonderful capture! It gives on a small scale an idea of the huge size of ice masses.
Great to see the beautiful blue colours of the ice.
Regards, Jacob

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
  • [2007-06-04 9:06]

Hi James, this is a fab shot - you certainly get around. The scene has a wonderful POV and the snow is well exposed. The iceing on the cake is the Penguins! Great light, colour and sharpness. Great composition.
tfs
debz

First I wonder how Adelie felt about the penguin getting her name. ha ha
__________
This is a wonderful perspective. I can imagine them arguing about who is going down first. :)
What a wonderful experience Antartica must have been! WOW!
The colors, composition and overall feel of this photo are great!!!

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 989 W: 23 N: 2761] (10082)
  • [2007-06-04 10:33]

Hi James,
impressive POV from an impressive place,this is an excellent capture considering it was hand held on a boat! I love that blue on the underside of the ice pack.

tfs,

Paul

I am particularly impressed with the shades of blue in this picture, James.
First and foremost, the blue of the sky which contrasts superbly with the white of the ice.
Secondly, the blue of the ice that clearly delineates faults and cracks in the ice face.
Between these two shades of blue, the row of black and white Adelie penguins looks just beautiful.
The perspective also conveys the awe-inspiring size of the ice wall.
Was zodiac a plane or a ship? Apologies for my ignorance.
Ram

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1895 W: 4 N: 5148] (19630)
  • [2007-06-04 15:21]

Hi James. This is a very good icescape if there is a name like that. To get a shot of the Penguins at the top is just great. five years old but a very good picture. a very good compostion and POV. with great notes.

well done TFS.
Nick..

very good photo

Hi James,
This is really beautiful. It has a kind of art look to it and still it is a nature photo. This could be a perfect photo for an add campaign, and I mean it in the most positive way. Just a wonderful view.
TFS,
Niek

Hello James,
A great composition with a feeling of fine artwork!
The B&W little fellows on top contrast so well with ice and sky in this treat to my eyes!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi James.
Interesting shot. Very nice excercise with the colour, structure and focus. This is such an amazing view. Well done. Tfs. Stev

Hi James,
This looks like an image from National Geographic. Just superb. It must have been difficult to get a good image of the ice.
Cheers,
Debbie

Hi James,
This is a beautiful image! Really shows how big the icebergs are, I can imagine them looking and thinking "I have to go down there"? Help!! Good sharpness and details and wonderful colours contrasting with each other. I love the blue tones of the iceberg. You lucky person to have travelled there! Well done and TFS
Cheers Tina :-)

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 160 N: 894] (2837)
  • [2007-06-04 23:55]

Hi James, this is an awesome composition with the Penguins sitting so high up in the frame. You can feel the height of the ice with this one. Your lighting is excellent giving us very good detail on the snow and birds.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2304 W: 59 N: 3674] (11774)
  • [2007-06-05 3:53]

Hi James,
Composition and your POV is very good. Good exposure control on the ice in a sunny weather. Nice scene :o) TFS
Selen

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2369 W: 164 N: 7114] (22494)
  • [2007-06-05 5:52]

Hello James,
What an experience to see this view and to capture it! This is a brilliant capture, illustrating the harsh environment of the penguins. Great sharpness and good colours of the ice. Well done!
TFS and regardds, Ulla

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 530 W: 6 N: 340] (936)
  • [2007-06-05 13:54]

Hi James,
Excellent composition and exposure job. Love that glacial blue. Cheers,
Hakan

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-06-05 22:55]

Hello James

A great shot of these penguins.A wonderful POV.The lighting is well handled.The details are very good.TFS

Rob

Beautiful shot James.
Wooooow man, am I jealous on all the great trips you've already made in your life and all the great images you brought back home.
I see that I've got a lot to do in the coming years :)
Did take a look at your portfolio........Awsome images.
Thamks for sharing.
Best regards, Harry

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 752 W: 58 N: 615] (6297)
  • [2007-06-10 16:09]

Bonjour,
Bonne idée de cadrage.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • pilonm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 542 W: 99 N: 813] (2647)
  • [2007-06-28 12:45]

Hello James,

Lovly composition and great pov... These penguins does'nt seem to have noticed you here! Great blue and white colors!

TFS,

Michel

This is terrific! You've created the sense of vertigo with me from the angle you chose. The snow is crisp, clear, and even feels cold. The penguins are terrific and are easily identified. Bravo.

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