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Big enough?


Big enough?
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1109 W: 59 N: 2247] (7449)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, Sigma 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/2000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-28 8:12
Viewed: 473
Points: 72
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Our house is surrounded by ditches. I live in a polder a few meters below sea-level. By a small bridge I can reach the road, which is not wider than 3 to 4 meters. On both sides again water, till 15 m. wide. A bit scary for who isn’t used to drive here.
So the life in and on the water is very important for a lot of animals here.
Besides the nests of Tits, Doves, Wrens, Dunnock, etc. in my garden there are the nests of Common Coots and this Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) on the water.
This photo is taken in front of our house.
You can see only one chick. But between the feathers of the mother there are two smaller ones.

The Great Crested Grebe is 46-51 cm long with a 59-73 cm wingspan. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations. In winter, this is whiter than most grebes, with white above the eye, and a pink bill. It is the largest European grebe.

The young are remarkable because their heads are striped black and white, much like zebras. They lose these markings when they become adults.

The Great Crested Grebe has an elaborate mating display. Like all grebes, it nests on the water's edge, since its legs are set very far back and it cannot walk well. Usually two eggs are laid, and the striped young are sometimes carried on the adult's back. Young grebes are capable of swimming and diving almost at hatching. The Crested Grebe feeds mainly on fish, but also little crustaceans, insects and little frogs.

When I took this photo the light conditions were poor, but I hope you like the scene.

jaycee, boreocypriensis, Maite, darwin, Gert-Paassen, nglen, pekkavalo1, maurydv, rousettus, Jamesp, albert, goldyrs, Argus, uleko, zulfu, eqshannon, Adanac, mariki, jusninasirun, marhowie, AiresSantos has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pvs: Big enough?PeterZ 2 05-29 12:08
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1684 W: 8 N: 4321] (14053)
  • [2008-05-28 8:16]

Hi Neighbor,

I LOVE the scene. You captured this moment perfectly. The mother has such a happy look on her face. Her offspring seems busy with his large meal. Beautiful colors and details - I love her ruffled feathers. You did a great job in spite of the poor light conditions.

Jane

he buurman.
het is altijd een machtig mooi gezicht als die kleine meevaren op de rug van hun ouders, mooie capture hier van deze fuut met kroost, goed fotowerk.
prettige avond.
groet jaap

Hi Peter, superb action shot of these Great Crested Grebe in feeding. wonderful shot in all aspects my friend! TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Peter
Nice action shot of Great Crested Grebe famliy.
TFS
Ralf

Hello Peter,
Very nice capture, very nice family of Grebes.
The baby looks ready to have a meal.. Very nice

Everton

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 978 W: 64 N: 1189] (4886)
  • [2008-05-28 8:55]

What a great timing for this shot, Peter! I like the scene a lot.
Thank you very much for sharing.
Greetings
Maite

Hi Peter
Splendid scene of this great grebe family
Lovely color tones and fine detail in the plumage
Great shot under difficult conditions
tfs jon

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 991 W: 23 N: 2776] (10124)
  • [2008-05-28 8:59]

Hi Peter,
it sounds like you live a wonderful place, having all this wildlife in your garden! A charming moment captured here with very nice colours and some great detail too, well done!
tfs
Paul

Hallo Peter,

deze opnames komen me bekend voor, heb ook nog niet zo lang geleden een serie over ze geplaatst.
Mooie foto van deze Futen paar.

Gert

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 925 W: 5 N: 2428] (9111)
  • [2008-05-28 11:22]

Hi Peter,what a fantastic moment to take the pic!!Excellent scoop perfectly taken,a very great shot,my best compliments,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 182 W: 0 N: 581] (2586)
  • [2008-05-28 11:50]

Hola Peter, buen momento, una toma con buena luz y color. Un saludo

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1898 W: 4 N: 5163] (19674)
  • [2008-05-28 12:38]

Hi Peter. This is a fantastic shot so well timed showing the young waiting for a fish. great deatil and colours. You sound as if you live a beautiful place. TFS.
Nick..

Hi Peter,

Very good picture of these Great Crested Grebes in action. Despite bad lighting conditions you have managed very well. Good composition, sharp details and nice colours.

TFS

Pekka

Bellissimo documento e bellissima scena di cure parentali, le condizioni di luce non erano ideali, ma è comunque un'immagine molto bella. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hello Peter,
excellent moment, they are very beautiful family members. your capture also wonderful. I like it very much. thanks for sharing, best wishes from Cyprus
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1210 W: 0 N: 4626] (13756)
  • [2008-05-28 20:02]

Hi Peter

A great action shot - well seen aqnd captured. Real TN stuff!

James

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-05-28 20:52]

Hello Peter

A very good pov for this shot.
I like the low water level angle.
Well timed ,you captured the moment well.
Excellent colours.
TFS

Rob

Hi Peter, splendid couple, great composition with with wonderful reflections, fantastic colors, superb details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 9 N: 132] (916)
  • [2008-05-29 3:16]

Merhaba Peter,
Beslenme esnasında yakalanmış çok güzel kare. Güzel bir çekim ve dinamik kompozisyon. Eline sağlık. Hüseyin

Hello Peter,
Very nice capture with perfect timing and great composition
Well done
Albert
PS:You must be fearless to live under sea level these days ?

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1292 W: 104 N: 4592] (20421)
  • [2008-05-29 7:58]

Hello Peter! What an interresting moment, the picture is technically very good and the composition is well made, thanks!

Mario

A great shot of these birds!
Very well timed and framed, Pter!
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 0 N: 316] (1777)
  • [2008-05-29 9:17]

Hi Peter
very nice composition
well done.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2492 W: 132 N: 7090] (22145)
  • [2008-05-29 11:10]

Hello Peter,
It must be marvellous to have nesting Great-crested Grebes in front of your house and to be able to take such fine shots.
The action of the male offering a freshly caught fish to the mother and her young is great, caught with good sharpness, lighting and from a fine POV. Nice composition too.
TFS this beauty,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1128 W: 254 N: 2441] (11099)
  • [2008-05-29 11:29]
  • [+]

Ha Peter,

Een leuke plaat,jammer dat het licht een beetje tegenzat,maar ik neem aan dat bij een sluitertijd van 1/2000 je de iso van 2200 nog wel iets had kunnen terugdraaien,enfin soms denk je hier niet direct aan waneneer er wat spectaculers te zien is,bedankt voor deze leuke foto,

Paul

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2375 W: 164 N: 7131] (22536)
  • [2008-05-29 11:31]

Hello Peter,
Your garden sounds very exciting and how lucky to be able to see these lovely birds at close range! Their young ones are so cute and obviously very greedy! Very fine sharp action capture in fine colours. Well done!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 476 W: 0 N: 70] (491)
  • [2008-05-29 13:31]

Hello Peter, wonderful action shot! TFS.
Regards, Mehmet

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1583 W: 242 N: 5286] (18629)
  • [2008-05-29 14:17]

What a lovely shot, Peter!
Such an intimate scene captured with excellent skill.
The colour of the water is beautiful!
Superb poses.
Great sharpness.
Thankyou greatly for posting this!

Cheers!
Joe

The title is a question which in ways could be a double meaning:-) I say that in jest. Not being sure how the rest of the world thinks...I am bereft of international diplomacy. My government would more than likely consider me an embarrassment...with perhaps exception of photography which I know well and hence know that your work as displayed here is just fine and I know you are and well should take some pride in what you do...it is amazingly rare to have such a palace as T
N and so many others who can share their own with us...very nice image and thanks so much once more!
Bob

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1036 W: 1 N: 3970] (13358)
  • [2008-05-29 20:52]

Hello Peter,
Lovely moment captured with this great quality image. The colors and composition are superb, thank you Peter.
Rick

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 752 W: 58 N: 615] (6307)
  • [2008-05-29 23:27]

Bonjour,
Sympathique scène de famille.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Hello Peter,

Excellent action shot. Very composition with an excellent timing. Beautiful detail. Good light and colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Excellent image Peter. Sharp detail and exposure making this excellent nature shot. The ripples add perspective to the composition. Well done and best regards. Jusni

Great action capture Peter, the wide frame comp works well for this.
Nice detail, color, POV, and exposure also.
Well done & have a nice weekend!
Howard

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 24 N: 4885] (15930)
  • [2008-06-02 6:45]

Hi Peter,
Wonderful shot and what a sight to have in front of your house. Very neat and sharp image and you have portrayed the action so beautifully. I like your low POV and the ripples in the water which are creating magic here. Very nice composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Peter
Well captured the moment !
Fine colours and details
TFS and BR
Aires

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