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Survival Of The Fittest


Survival Of The Fittest
Photo Information
Copyright: Bill Houghton (poppygan59) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 69 W: 0 N: 206] (757)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-03-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 5D, Canon EF100-400 IS L
Exposure: f/8, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-03-21 5:53
Viewed: 1497
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
While I was at the pond shooting wildlife, I saw this scene unfold. This Great Blue Heron flew in and grabbed one of the little baby ducklings right our from under the mothers clutch. (Note the mother duck down at the bottom of the picture.) The mother duck tried to fight him off, but to no avail. He flew off with it down to the end of the pond where he killed the duckling with his beak, and then swallowed it whole.
SunToucher, pitai, Eko, SkyF, AndyB, wkshelton, goutham_ramesh, Leace, satish_h, MartinL has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To SunToucher: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:55
To didou: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:54
To viv: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:53
To pitai: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:53
To Eko: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:52
To Pesky_Polecat: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:52
To SkyF: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:51
To AndyB: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:51
To pvs: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:50
To wkshelton: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:50
To goutham_ramesh: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:49
To manyee: Survival Of The fittestpoppygan59 1 03-21 11:48
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bill,
I guess some people might be shocked by this photo, but this is real nature, and that's just a fact of life. The title is very good and suits the photo. I like the action and sharpness in the photo. There is a lot of detail present. You might have a few OE spots, but you can't have everything perfect with quick thinking photo.
TFS,
Niek

hi Bill , comme le fait remarquer Niek c'est lhorreur de l'existence , je dois dire que je trouve votre cliché est de qualité
Bravo

  • Great 
  • viv Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 3 N: 621] (3120)
  • [2006-03-21 6:49]
  • [+]

Hello Bill,
It is shocking to see but that´s what you write survival, a very nice action shot.
Thanks
Vivian

  • Great 
  • pitai Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 203 W: 15 N: 155] (1197)
  • [2006-03-21 7:01]
  • [+]

Hello Bill, really a very impressive shot. Nice timing. Nature always gives us surprises. I can’t think on a title more appropriate than yours for this composition. Very nice shot, considering all the action involved. Thanks for sharing. Gabriel

  • Great 
  • Eko Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 187 W: 10 N: 38] (121)
  • [2006-03-21 7:22]
  • [+]

Hello Bill!
What a moment!Details,POV,sharpness,timing and composition
are excellent.Into my favr.Thanks for posting.

Well captured moment in time, and a good illustration of Nature at work.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-03-21 7:30]
  • [+]

Hi Bill,
what a dramatic scene,the titel is well choosen. You captured the scene so well.
Great action. Excellent POV and details.
Regards...Sky

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2006-03-21 7:46]
  • [+]

Hello Bill,
Excellent action you've captured here.
Good detail and composition.
I read your note in the hope of a happy ending for the duckling but alas not,but this is nature.
Great shot.

TFS

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1146 W: 254 N: 2546] (11541)
  • [2006-03-21 8:14]
  • [+]

Hi Bill,

This is a perfect action shot,everybody knows that this thing happening all the time,its nature,but to get it on picture is seldom people fix it,

Well done,
Paul

Hi Bill,
Just a great action shot, being at the right place at the right time with a camera. This nature at its most. great capture and compistion, just excellent work. TFS Kyle

Hi Bill

This is a masterpiece , superb action shot. i never knew / heard of this heron behavior.
10/10 for this

TFS
Goutham R

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3070 W: 231 N: 5860] (19704)
  • [2006-03-21 10:44]
  • [+]

What a dramatic moment you have captured, Bill.
Quick reflex on your part. Great composition.
I like the splashing water. TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 871 W: 2 N: 606] (2034)
  • [2006-03-21 13:50]

Hallo Bil ,Dit is een hele mooie foto op het juiste moment genomen , maar heel erg voor die moeder eend , en ook dat
jonge eendje , Dat is hier bij ons ook ,zomers bij de vijver , is heel zielig maar het is de natuur .groeten Teunie .nog bedankt voor je mail.

Hi Bill,
Boss, this is the winner!! My congratulations. This is not ashocking, becuase, i have seen similar situations in my wildlife photography. But presence of my mind, composition and exposure makes a perfect picture. We canot come between the nature,it is all ecological balance. But your sharp mind made " THE PICTURE". Fabulous. Am short of words.
satish.H

Extremely dramatic moment. Very sad moment for the mom, but a way of nature that is essential for survival. Very nice capture. :)

Great action shot! Sharply focussed and excellent details.

Bill,

If there is one thing I could recommend is to submit this shot into any contest - this is a one of a kind behavioral shot which you happened to photograph very nicely! These situations do happen except there isn't always a photographer near by and ready to make the best of this situation. You've done very well here, action is clearly shown, the heron is in focus and everything clicks just right. Poor duckling but I guess that's nature. TFS. Awesome work.

Best Regards,

Martin

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