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Band of Brothers


Band of Brothers
Photo Information
Copyright: Alan Turvey (liquidsunshine) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1889 W: 112 N: 3371] (11494)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09-18
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 300 D, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX APO RF, Hoya skylight (1B)
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/640 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Characters on TN [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-12-10 12:54
Viewed: 2398
Favorites: 4 [view]
Points: 76
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I have tomorrow morning free....yippee. I'll have a spare 3 hours to get out with the camera, I just hope it's not raining!!!!
Another raid of the Archives has turned up this group capture of the Asian small clawed otter.

Also known as the Oriental Small Clawed Otter or the Malaysian Small Clawed Otter. The Asian Short Clawed Otter is the smallest of all otters, measuring a mere 65-90cm, and hardly ever reaching 5kg. Unlike the Eurasian Otter its front feet are only partially webbed, but it has short claws for digging in the mud and lifting rocks. If you ever get close to an Asian Short Clawed Otter take a look at its front feet closely: they are masters at using these front paws to catch prey, and are the only mammals other than the primates to use these with almost human dexterity. They are very group orientated, and as many as 15 can be seen together although it is more common to find groups of 4-8. Their birdlike squeaks help them to locate each other in the wild, but their social vocabulary goes much further than this and they have developed something like 12 or more different calls.

Research has shown that the groups are composed of a dominant pair together with offspring from successive litters and it is thought that the males and females pair for life. They have large litters of 4 or 5 cubs, and can produce 2 litters per year, with commonly both parents bringing up the young; however, unlike the Eurasian Otter they are not very good at rearing these young.

Asian Short Clawed Otters live in a variety of diverse habitats from mangrove swamps to small streams and marshy areas, searching for crabs and small fish. They are largely nocturnal, returning to the cover of the bankside vegetation during the day.

Troubles exist in Asia for these otters: they are killed for their pelts and for their organs which are believed to have medicinal value. Also there are threats due to pollution and habitat destruction. The activities of many western logging companies result in siltation of the waterways and damage to streams used by these otters.

THE FACTS
Conservation status: Insufficently known. Much information is based on old records and new data is urgently needed.

Size: 65-90cm
Gestation: 9 weeks
litter size: 4-5 cubs

Weight: 2.7 to 5.4 kg

Diet: Crabs, Molluscs and other bottom living organisms.

Threats: there is still a demand for live specimens for pets and zoos; hunted for furs; habitat destruction is becoming an increasing problem.

Notes taken from www.otter.org

Thanks for looking, enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Fisher, scottevers7, wallhalla15, gerhardt, Luc, fiyo, thistle, Janice, Runnerduck, ellis49, livios, dew77, cedryk, moemf, marhowie, Circe, extramundi, hummingbird24, Toni has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Runnerduck: earthdisplayliquidsunshine 2 09-26 11:00
To Fisher: The band of Brothersliquidsunshine 4 12-10 17:10
To Fisher: LOLliquidsunshine 1 12-10 15:06
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Critiques [Translate]

This is perfect Alan, I love it, great group capture of these fun looking otters. :)

Excellent title , great note and brilliant picture. Well done.

Demetrio

There's Alan, in the Middle, showing his true size. It's rude to point. LOL

Excellent shot and well done on the composition and details.

The British invasion, Alan standing front and center, Paul, Michael, Terry and Rob.

Mike

  • Great 
  • ridfa Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 89 W: 0 N: 376] (4111)
  • [2005-12-10 14:19]

EXCELLENT......

Hi Alan,
This one rocks!!! Great composition and framing here. Beautiful even light has given nice colors. Very sharp detail and great DOF. A perfect title to top it off. Nice work!
Scott

Alan, this is an excellent picture. Great colours, excellent sharpness and POV. A very nice composition. Well done. Thanks for sharing.

Perfect DOF! This clutter of otters is a very pleasant sight. I love their arrangement and different poses yet it still creates one subject. Unique.

Judging by the rubble I think this photo was taken just after the Battle of the Bulge! :)

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 987 W: 5 N: 2762] (10618)
  • [2005-12-10 16:08]

Hello Alan,
Wonderful capture.POV,colors,sharpness and composition are excellent.TFS

Wow, this is lovely Alan!
Pity that one is cut a bit, but despite that it's an amazing capture. I love the fact almost any of them doesn't look straight at the camera.
What can I say more? This is SWEETx5 ;)
I like it very much :)
Have a great Sunday my friend. Hope the weather will be fine :)

  • Great 
  • reina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 260 W: 1 N: 328] (2024)
  • [2005-12-10 16:19]

Rebels! Well done, nice composition, congratulations Reina

Hi Alan,
these guys are wonderful and sooooo cute!
I love this shot so much, thanks.
Hope you have fun tomorrow and make some good shots for us, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2005-12-10 16:31]

Hi Alan,
This is a brilliant photo!
Excellent captured moment, lovely poses,
perfect framing.
Very well done and thank you!

  • Great 
  • Kris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 180 W: 0 N: 129] (1812)
  • [2005-12-10 16:42]

Hi,
Excellent pose, very beautiful composition,
amazing colors. Perfect. Thanks for posting.
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2005-12-10 17:29]

Excellent capture of these group of otters, great poses, excellent composition, good detail. A wee bit more DOF would have been nice as one otter is noticeably sharper than the rest (comes at the risk of not capturing the action, I know).
As is, it's very good with a high visual impact.
Kind regards,
Gabi

Hello Alan
Wonderful light and nicely set off from BG. Color and composition are first rate.

Wonderful image with a variety of poses. The log makes a fabulous background too. I think I would've been tempted to crop out a bit from the left. Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6165] (21068)
  • [2005-12-11 3:16]

What an adorable scene, Alan. You caught the lot of them looking at you. That is quite a feat! Too cute. Wonderful composition of these otters. Very well captured. TFS : )

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-12-11 4:33]

How did you manage to get them to stand in those positions Alan??
Just superb!
Bravo!

Happy smiley, you deserve it - Xplorator

Hi Alan, this is a funny and great picture.
Yuo got all in the group very well.
Great compostion, lovely light and colours.
Excellent work.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-12-11 14:33]

Alan, a cute and great image.

Excellent poses, pov, sharpness and composition to show us this very nice band.

Yeah, they do rock.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-12-12 2:18]

Hello Alan!
Funny capture.Details,sharpness,framing,POV,colors and especially composition are perfect.TFS...:-)

Cool shot Alan,
I like the expressions on the otter's funny little faces. They are so cute. Their positioning on and around the log is fantastic. They must have been posing for you :) Thanks for sharing.
Claudia

Hello Alan,
What a great shot of this group. Otters are one of the most adorable animals to me :-) I guess it's because books by Gavin Maxwell. Fantastic POV, composition, timing and colours!
One of my favourites!
Best greetings,
Michal

  • Great 
  • moemf Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 116 W: 0 N: 160] (701)
  • [2005-12-13 9:39]

Hi

Great shot. Very good in every aspect. I love the title. Thanks for sharing.

Reinier

This is very nice Alan. Excellent composition with great poses & expressions all..
Very well done my friend.

  • Great 
  • Circe Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 54 W: 4 N: 22] (86)
  • [2005-12-15 2:34]

Hola Alan, me encanta esta fotografia. El titulo no podia ser mejor. Realmente parecen una banda callejera, la situacion capturada es muy original.
Excelente encuadre y definicion. Un trabajo realmente bueno.

I like the shot, I love the title.
My wife says they are really a character :D
Very nice colours, lights and details.
Excellent composition. Have a great week end too!
Regards, Felipe.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-12-17 22:46]

Personal assessment of the photo: very good. Almost perfect composition. I like very much the homogeneity of the colors of this photo.
Capacity of evocation in me: very strong. They look like our River Otters.
Strong visual impact.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you very much Alan.

Hi Alan

How on earth did I miss this group shot! I am very pleased I have found it. What a lovely bunch of otters. Each and everyone is very handsome. Better not show this to a female otter! Nicely composed with perfect light. Congrats.

Wonderful photo and sense of brotherhood, in this amazing composition, Alan!

Excellent details, colors, lighting, POV and poses.

Fantastic job, thank you.

Wow, that is such a great shot! It looks like the otters knew something of good composition and placed themselves accordingly. Good sharpness, color, and just a wonderful shot.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-12-21 13:14]

Hi Alan
Funny shot and title to go with it. I like how they are in different positions and how one is baring his teeth. Great details and framing.
Regards Toni

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2005-12-22 11:43]

Well caught Alan, this is an excellent composition. This familly of Otter is amazing!!Very well done and happy Christmas, Didier.

  • Great 
  • twin Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 252 W: 17 N: 494] (3255)
  • [2005-12-26 14:22]

another wonderful shot here...
excellent composition...
I love the mood...
great!!!

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2006-01-03 16:52]

Hi Alan,
What a crew we have here! You did a beautiful job capturing them all. The detail is great!
If the one on the lower right were not cropped I think this would be "the perfect picture" at least IMO...;-)
Looking forward to checking out more of your stuff!
Like Scott said, "This one rocks!!!" Big time!!!
Thanks,
Dave

i love your title its very catchy,exelant photograph

This is great! Perfect. The poses you have captured are superb. Great pov and dof. The lighting is also great, almost dusky.
My only (only) nit would be the Otter cut in half on the right.
It isn't raining here but Jack Frost has been visiting. Hope you manage to get some good shots. I may be able to squeeze an hour in later, but it depends on how long it takes to find 'the' perfect Christmas tree ;-)
Thanks for posting.

Note: 26/09/07 This image is on this website http://www.earthdisplay.com/ where people can download the image and 'get free wallpapers'. Are you aware of this??

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