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An Arrow In The Sun


An Arrow In The Sun
Photo Information
Copyright: Jean Michel Peers (JeanMichel) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 633 W: 87 N: 938] (2864)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-10
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS, Digital ISO 400, Hoya HMC UV(0)
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/2000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-05-22 16:08
Viewed: 1196
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
PHALACROCORAX CARBO

COMMON NAME
En. Cormorant, Da. Skarv, Du. Aalscholver, Fi. Merimetso, Fr. Grand Cormoran, Ge. Kormoran, It. Cormorano, No. Storskarv, Sp. Cormoran grande, Sw. Storskarv

IDENTIFICATION
Cormorants are those big, black, rather ugly birds which you often see standing upright on a post, tree or rock with their wings held out to dry. Apart from divers which are smaller with shorter, fatter necks, more gentle heads and less brutish bills, Cormorants could only be mistaken for the smaller but closely related Shags. In summer Cormorants are easily distinguished by conspicuous white patches on their throats and thighs. In winter though you have to rely on differences in shape since Cormorants have a bigger, more triangular head, a flatter crown and more massive bill. Diagnostically the bare yellowish skin around a Cormorant's bill extends around its eye. Juveniles are browner and, unlike young Shags, have a variable amount of white on their bellies. In flight, Cormorants resemble geese but have long diamond shaped tails and tend to fly much higher above the water than Shags.

HABITAT
Breeds on rocky headlands and islands, and also, increasingly, by inland lakes, marshes and reservoirs. Winters on coasts, estuaries, rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

FOOD
They dive to catch fish (400 to 500 g/day)

DISTRIBUTION
Seen commonly around all coasts and at many sites inland, where it now breeds in a number of tree-nesting colonies, such as at Fen Drayton Gravel Pits, just north of Cambridge.
Numerous on the Atlantic coasts of Europe but some of the largest and most impressive colonies are inland, for example at some of the fishponds of eastern Europe or the unforgettable Naardermeer near Amsterdam.

POPULATION
The British population is estimated to be around 7 500 pairs, with 4 700 pairs in Ireland. With 13200 birds wintering. At least 140,000 pairs breed in Europe. French population is estimated to be around 3 350 couples. 800 couples live in Normandy. 70 000 are wintering (source LPO). They are not appreciated by fishermen and fishbreeders. Their population is increasing every year. Some regions of Europe allow a limited amount of destruction.
Information from this site
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Shot and adjusted in RAW mode, converted to JPEG. PS: cropped, levels, hues, USM. Reduced to site size.
twin, PDP, thistle, kingfisher, Janice, scottevers7, TAZ, Comandante, carper, marhowie, correp01, christophe, gerhardt, Callie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To gerhardt: Thank you very much!JeanMichel 4 05-26 15:22
To slrnovice2: Exposure compensationJeanMichel 2 05-24 01:41
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • twin Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 262 W: 17 N: 499] (3249)
  • [2005-05-22 16:26]

a very beautiful shot... well focused on the flying bird... and also a warm light helped it to be so nice...
I like it...
congratulations

Very nice capture! POV, sharpness and lighting are quite good. Thanks for sharing.
Unsal

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2952 W: 367 N: 3779] (11765)
  • [2005-05-22 17:00]

Hello Jean Michel, great shot! Really good in-flight capture. Lovely details and very good qulaity, well done.

Great shot!
Very good details and light. Perfect composition.
I always admire photographers who are able to take such difficult shots.
I like the photo very much.
Well done!

SUperbe photo Jean-Michel, j'aime beaucoup.
Très belle composition.
NicO.

Good in-flight shot. Nice and sharp around the head allows us to clearly see the green eye. Well done.

Excellente prise en vol de ce grand cormoran. Les détails sont très bien rendus et la pose est magnifique.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3471 W: 145 N: 5989] (17924)
  • [2005-05-22 20:41]

Great flight capture of the Cormorant Jean Michel. Composition, sharpness and colours are all terrific. You did so well catching it in flight. Bravo!

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1552 W: 0 N: 1170] (6452)
  • [2005-05-22 20:52]

Very good capture,nice composition,detail.TFS!

Excellent capture on this cormorant. Nice sharp detail in your subject. The exposure appears dead on, with great stop action..Excellent shot!

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3119 W: 236 N: 5956] (20112)
  • [2005-05-23 2:00]

That bird looks like it is going full speed. Congratulations on catching him in flight with such sharp details and good light. Great shot, Jean-Michel. TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3170] (10926)
  • [2005-05-23 3:41]

Belle et intéressante composition photographique bien réalisée pour cet oiseau capturé en plein vol.
Interesting & very well done !

Hello Jean!
Another great action shot.Details and composition are excellent.Thanks for sharing.

I like the POV Jean Michel. Very clear shot. You have even got the catchlight in the eye. Awesome detail. Thanks.

Wauw Jean Michel,
wat a sharpness, fantastic capture, fantastic details very nice to look at, good job,
gr. Jaap

This is another fine in-flight Jean..Very good sharpness, details and POV, Very well done! I need to get out find me some big birds myself..Since I got the sigma 150mm macro my 400mm is gettin' dusty!!

This is a great shot Jean. Catching these in flight can't be easy and you got such sharpness and detail. You also dealt with the sky/bird contrast really well. Did you use exposure compensation? I see these birds occasionally myself. I would love to get such a great image. TFS :)

Bonjour Jean Michel

Cette photo est absolument superbe. L'esposition est très bien réussie et le mouvement de l'oiseau est très beau.
TFS

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2300 W: 322 N: 4275] (16888)
  • [2005-05-23 11:36]

Jean Michel, these shots are usually difficult to be taken, but you did a very nice job.

Excellent pov, sharpness and composition. I like your note too.

P.S.: in Portuguese, "cormorão".

Excellente prise de vue Jean Michel details et couleurs et bonne gestion de la lumiere
Amicalement Christophe

Great flight-in, Jean Michel.
Good details, nice POV and light.
Very well done.

Your in-flights are impressive, Jean Michel. This bird is difficult enough to expose correctly sitting still. :) You wield that "great white" like a master my friend. If you have the time I would love to get some pointers on the in-flights.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2052 W: 315 N: 4301] (14721)
  • [2005-05-27 21:53]

Hello jean-Michel.
Personal assessment of the photo: more than excellent.
Vrey strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you for sharing so beautifull pictures and for the enjoyment which they give us.
Quel beau travail!

Hi JM
I have a couple too, but not near as much detail and focus on the eye and face as this guy. You had nice light and speed, it helps to nail them. Very nice in flight pic of this cormorant. I am happpy for your part that you are nailing them. TFS

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