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Shag Burp


Shag Burp
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Prince (PDP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11755)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-11
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX APO RF, Digital ISO 200
Exposure: f/8, 1/640 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Funny Faces, Open Up ...Part I [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-08-08 18:23
Viewed: 2338
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Not my favourite bird if I'm honest, I think they are pretty ugly and I find it hard to find anything likeable or loveable about them. However, I liked this image, it made me laugh watching this chap standing his ground and the colour inside the beak was something else I found interesting.

Shag
Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Shags are goose-sized dark long-necked birds similar to cormorants but smaller and generally slimmer with a characteristic steep forehead. In the breeding season adults develop a dark glossy green plumage and prominent recurved crest on the front of their head. In the UK they breed on coastal sites, mainly in the north and west, and over half their population is found at fewer than 10 sites, making them an Amber List species. Shags usually stay within 100-200km of their breeding grounds.

Where does it live?
Breeding
Nests in coastal colonies on ledges and sea-cliffs, or among large boulders.
Wintering
Around coasts and estuaries, usually near breeding grounds. Small numbers of birds occasionally venture inland.

Where to see it
During the breeding season at their large Scottish colonies on Orkney, Shetland, the Inner Hebrides and the Firth of Forth. Elsewhere they can be seen commonly around the coasts of Wales and South West England (especially Devon and Cornwall).

What does it eat?
Fish and occasionally crustacea and molluscs.

What does it sound like?
Grunts and croaks during the breeding season; generally silent in winter.

When to see it
All year round

Notes are from the RSPB, I hope you like it.

I've given up using points so feel free to comment, critique, leave points or don't leave points - it's completely up to you!

klemmg, jeanpaul, scottevers7, Hil, takos1, red45, wallhalla15, DOBIS, MojoUK, RAP, Dando, coasties, jmp, tinman, Janice, annagrace, liziafa, dew77, mogens-j, anavazao, Luc, gerhardt, cedryk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Shoot_Score: CertainlyPDP 1 01-05 15:55
To MojoUK: CheersPDP 1 08-09 05:11
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2006-08-08 18:35]

Hilarious capture, excellently composed for maximum effect. Amazing detail and colour. I agree on your assessment of the subject, the eyes look amazing though.
Regards,
Gabi

Well I had to sit back and laugh at this one. It definitely looks like it's gacking up one. :)

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-08-08 21:20]

Hi Paul

Looks like some lads I know after a few pints.Wonderful capture though .The DOF and POV are great. The colours are outstanding.Excellent portrait.TFS

Rob

Hi Paul,
The frame filling portrait is excellent. Your exposure is spot on. You have really brought out the color and detail in the plumage. The pose is what really makes this one special.
Excellent capture.
Scott

  •      
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1097 W: 168 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-08-08 22:59]

Hello Paul,
Nice shot, excellent light and colour in the eye. Detail looks just a little soft.
Cheers,
Adrian

  •      
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 11 N: 1408] (4839)
  • [2006-08-09 1:26]

Hi Paul

I agree that they are not the best looking birds we have, but I think you have brought out the best in him.
Superb detail, pose, POV and great colours, backed uo with a really good BG.
It does look like he is having a good burp.

Reagrds Hilary

Bellissimo questo primo piano Paul!
Dettagli bellissimi e colori stupendi, bravo!
Ciao.
Franco

  •      
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1552 W: 0 N: 1165] (6442)
  • [2006-08-09 2:03]

Hi Paul,
Great camera work! Excellent detail in the plumage, very nice colour. Funny pose, and very well framed.
TFS!

  •      
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3072 W: 232 N: 5866] (19726)
  • [2006-08-09 2:38]

Great catch, Paul. : )
Good timing with his mouth open, revealing the bright yellow inside that offers a great contrast to the black plumage.
Wonderful POV and very sharp details.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2830 W: 75 N: 8025] (26863)
  • [2006-08-09 3:07]

Hi Paul!
This is really funny portrait :-) Excellent face and as always beautifull, emerald eyes. Great capture!

Excellent portrait shot Paul, great sharpness and POV/DOF, well captured too. Great colours an very nice bg. This is an excellent compositon. Thank you for posting.
Gr.
Heinz

Hi Paul, Great close up study, the detail and sharpness of the birds head is spot on with just a little softness showing in the plumage of it's neck. What make these birds striking for me is those deep emerald green eyes which are very clearly shown here with a nice catcthlight making it positively sparkle. The deep blue OOF ocean in the bg makes for the perfect background and contrasts nicely with the colours of the Shag.

I saw these at close quaters during a recent visit to the Farne Islands where they were raising youngsters. If you think the adults are not the most attractive of gods creatures you should see their chicks!

  •      
  • ellis49 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3645 W: 350 N: 8890] (28681)
  • [2006-08-09 5:37]

Hi Paul,
the POV is very nice and I like the tight crop.
The colour in the eye is amazing.
Well composed with good details. The shallow DOF isolate the bird nicely from the BG.
Great work.

Ok, no points.

I like the blunt originality of this image! He looks like a slob!

THE CRITIQUE SCALE
Composition & POV : 10
Sharpness & DOF : 9
Light & color: 10
Creativity & Originality: 10

Best regards,
Xplorator (Radu F.)

hi Paul
Remarquable ce cliché en portrait.Les détails et les couleurs sont remarquable et très nets!!.
merci pour le partage....JP

  •      
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2006-08-09 6:41]

Hi Paul,

I do really like these birds (shags and cormorants)as I find their eyes amazing; like emeralds. Your picture is excellent; sharp details, perfect exposure and great colors. Very well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  •      
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-08-09 7:45]

Impactante retrato Paul con gran detalle y nitidez sobre un espectacular fondo azul.
Excelente elección del recorte con apropiado POV y DOF.
Me encanta la claridad con lo que se aprecia el ojo del ave.
Bravo!
Saludos... Ricardo

Impacting portrait Paul with great detail and sharpness on a spectacular blue background.
Excellent election of the cutting with appropriate POV and DOF.
I love clarity with what the eye of the bird is appreciated.
Bravo!
Regards... Ricardo

  • Great 
  • DOBIS Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 126 W: 16 N: 170] (632)
  • [2006-08-09 7:49]

Hi Paul,
very well done portrait! Excellent timing and note.
Regards,
Dobis

Hello Paul, excllent work, great details, very crisp. excllent colors, bg, POV , Excllent use of DOF, perfect light , excllent compose photo, great Job, TFS Kyle

  •      
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 32 N: 790] (3052)
  • [2006-08-09 8:54]

Hi Paul, excellent portrait with a great expression. You have done very well on the exposure and the details are very good. I love the green eye and the yellow beak. Plumage is a bit soft in the neck area which I would expect if you have focused on the eye. Can't really say anything else but excellent work, well done and TFS.
Dean.

Hi Paul,
This is a great portrait of this bird you don't like :) Nice details, good colors and great timing for this open beak. I love his expression, he seems a bit arrogant and, along with your notes, I think it gives a pretty funny result! TFS,
Claudine
PS, I think he has nice green eyes :)

Hi Paul,
Sharpness of the best. The details are so great. The light is superb and brought out some great colors. Great posture and close up.
TFS,
Niek

Hi Paul

Wow Top quality shot. Perfect exposure. Great timing. Stunning portrait. Thank you! :-)

Hi Paul,
wow, that's close - and the pose of this bird is crazy. Just at the right moment.
Sharpness and colours are excellent, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2338] (8400)
  • [2006-08-09 17:11]

Hi Paul,
I find this face quite interesting, similar to certain person I know. Great portrait with great color, sharpness, pov, bg and pose.
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11878)
  • [2006-08-09 22:49]

Bonjour Paul!

Bravo pour ce portrait,l'expression de l'oiseau est superbe et l'éclairage fait bien ressortir les couleurs et détails.
Merci.
joseph

  •      
  • mbasil Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 348 W: 146 N: 706] (3059)
  • [2006-08-09 23:48]

This shot gets us into one of those philosophical debates about the role of photography. Should we just photograph beautiful things in beautiful ways like butterflies and sunsets, or turn our lenses to the ugly side of life like war? Well, I think you've weighed in by making a beautiful photograph of a really ugly creature, Paul. He really is an ugly bugger. NTFS (No Thanks for Sharing)! ;-)
Mike

  • Great 
  • tinman Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 242 W: 7 N: 458] (2663)
  • [2006-08-10 13:53]

Great one Paul, well done. Super eye contact and the shades in the feathers is super

Excellent gros plan d'une netteté parfaite. Belles couleurs
Amicalement
JJ

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 475 W: 0 N: 926] (7973)
  • [2006-08-11 5:32]

Hi Paul,

this is a very expressive phot. I can hear this bird making his (after dinner) noise.
Great close-up and TFS.

regards,
Zeno.

Yes, a pretty mouth to look into! Smelly too I bet! Great pose, and well taken Paul. He is quite shiny and greedy looking. TFS
Janice

LOL, great capture! You're right, the bird would be uninteresting if the mouth wasn't open. Well seen, Paul!

Wooow!!!
Fantastic portrait Paul.
Good details and colours.
Congratulations!!!
TFS Malgosia

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-08-21 7:19]

Hello Paul,
Wonderful portrait,like studio work:).Lighting,details on black feathers,simple BG,clear eyes and expression on face are excellent.
TFS...:-)

Fantastic close up Paul. Amazingly sharp and wonderful colours. I really love that starring green eye. Excellent composition too.

You are absolutely right - they are not the most beloved birds on this planet but personally I think that the bad reputation is slightly exaggerated.

Anyway you did a great job on this one.

Mogens

Hi,
One more time...I love yours close-up,this portrait is excellent, contrast colors composition, all is very nice!
Take care Ana:)

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2006-08-29 8:40]

Tu devais être assez près et "intime" avec ce Cormorant pour le photographier ainsi.
Ce n'est peut-être pas le plus bel oiseau que tu connaisses mais avoues qu'il a de beaux yeux verts émeraudes!
Merci pour le partage.

Hello Paul,
Again a lovely portrait of a nice bird. You may think they are ugly but this one definitely looks great on a picture. There's lots of colours here though it's just a photo of a black bird. And the open beak adds a lot.
Excellent work!

Why would anyone call a cormorant a shag?? It must have been those sailors traveling the world back then. "It's been ages since I have seen..." ;)

Great portrait Paul. Lovely details in the blacks and a catching eye. Love the pose too. Very well done.

What are you up too lately??

  • Great 
  • naki Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 421 W: 27 N: 782] (2694)
  • [2006-10-09 5:20]

Hi Paul;
They really are not so lovely birds but I love the gesture of the shag in this photo. Second I used to love is their eye colours and you managed to show it well. Very well composed with nice details.
Good work.

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 968 W: 57 N: 1638] (5022)
  • [2006-10-11 20:41]

Hello Paul,
What a great and funny portrait. It looks very angry at you I must admit. Perfect details on the head.
TFS and best greetings,
Michal

Paul allow me to share why I laugh at these birds.

I like the way the get up on a rock and spread their wings to dry out...
They look hilarious on top of rocks, looking like capes crusaders that can't take off...

Their heads in close-ups are awesome!

I like this shot! Wiish my shags would get off the rocks here that are about a mile out, and come close enough so i can get a mugshot too.

You have nice notes abt. this bird. But can you elaborate on how and where you took the shot?

TFS & TIA,
Jay

Belle photo,cet animal est de toute beauté,surtout avec son bec ouvert comme cela,on dirait qu'il a quelque chose a nous dire, ecoutons le. Amitiés Thomas

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