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Maoris and Shags


Maoris and Shags
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-11-25
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon 70-300mm DO IS USM
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of New Zealand, New Zealand Native Fauna and Flora (2) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-01-05 17:56
Viewed: 1234
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Maoris and Shags

In New Zealand Cormorants are known as Shags.

Maori considered the shag to be the offspring of one of their gods.

Shags were noted for their straight, unswerving flight and there are many sayings referring to this. They were not an important food supply but were occasionally eaten.

Shaggeries in trees or on cliffs were visited to take the young before they could fly. These shaggeries were known by special names and were often given as evidence of occupation in the Land Court.

In Māori sayings, someone obviously poised /ready to leave, is compared to a shag (kawau) ready for flight: ‘Ka maro te kaki o te kawau’ (the shag’s neck is stretched out).

People on a determined course of action are ‘me kawau ka tuku ki roto i te aro maunga’ (like a shag making for a mountain face).

Shags also symbolise tenacity / stubbornness: ‘E kore te kawau e neke i tona tumu tu’ (the shag will not move from his stump).

The dejected air of a sitting shag gave rise to the Kiwi phrase, ‘as miserable as a shag on a rock’.

This is where we saw the Shag..
eqshannon, bobcat08, marhowie, fartash, Argus, fiyo, mirceax, azleader, loot, flashpoint has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cafecrem: Kia ora and thanksJanice 7 01-08 01:15
To Argus: MaoriJanice 1 01-06 11:13
To eqshannon: Sure is StrangeJanice 1 01-05 18:06
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Critiques [Translate]

Wow...lots of neat info!!!! and the workshop photo leaves me with a good feeling about the location...A strange bird ...and I say that literally, not in the old/neuvo contradictory English way...but truly an unusual looking creature...not sure why...it almost looks dysfunctinal..isn't that a strange thing to say about a bird...but it is called a shag...that enough will get it arrest in some public areas.:-)
Bob

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2008-01-05 20:18]

Superb close up !
Nice portrait,excellent details.

Hi Janice!!!
What a wonderful photo! Good to be so close to Shag. I would like to saw Michał all of the wonderful animals in the world!

  • Great 
  • sway Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 303 W: 85 N: 308] (1224)
  • [2008-01-06 0:29]

HI Janice, I like this guys profile :-)
Nice shot.
Happy new year.
Sue

Hello Janice,

Whow.............what a superb close up. What a eyescatcher is this. Magnificent colours. And sharp, ful of details. Take a look in his eyes. This is really the color. Wonderful. POV and BG are good. Very interesting Maori notes. Thanks for that. Well done. Regards and TFS BOB

Hello Janice,

Great portrait of this cormorant. Excellent light and very nice focus on the eye. Wonderful colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Janice,
Excellent portrait, love the POV and that eye is very clear & razor sharp. I enjoyed the Maori sayings you've so graciously included in your notes as well :)
Great work mf,
Howard

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2008-01-06 3:57]

Hi Janice!

Great macro-portrait of Shag! I like low POV and bird's proud pose. Very detailed picture with vivid colours and my favourite, emerald eye :-) Lots of interesting Maori words in note! Thanks for sharing this sunny photo my friend.

Hello Janice
Very intersting portrait you captured,
Perfect details,colors and BG,Superb shot.

Best whises for 2008
Fartash

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3824 W: 190 N: 11393] (35107)
  • [2008-01-06 4:30]
  • [+]

Hello Janice,
Great close-up of the head of a NZ Shag with perfect focusing and superb sharpness. Nice POV and composition too.
I am impressed by your knowledge of the Maori language and folklore. Du you have Maori roots yourself?
Thanks for sharing this,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2008-01-06 4:58]

Bonjour Janice,

Excellent gros plan de cet oiseau. Les détails sont extras et les couleurs sont justes.
Merci pour l'envoie.
Joseph

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 987 W: 5 N: 2762] (10618)
  • [2008-01-06 8:24]

Hello Janice,
Very nice portrait, POV and colours. I also like frame. Good work! Regards and thanks.

Hi Janice,
This is a beautiful portrait, very close and detailed. I like this unusual pose you captured. As usual, your notes are very interesting and instructive. Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2398 W: 94 N: 5543] (17640)
  • [2008-01-06 11:01]

Hello Janice,
How close can it be? Fantastic portrait with perfect details. Amazing colours and focus on the eye. Great composition and BG.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Janice,
This is a stuning bird portrait ! The focus and the colours are amazing. Lovely pose and perfect BG.
tfs

Mircea

Interesting perspective and capture of a 'shag'. Great color, detail and depth of field. Very fine image.

Interesting and informative note.

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5452 W: 594 N: 3651] (10035)
  • [2008-01-07 15:35]

Now that's what can be called a "facial close-up". Spot on cropping, excellent composition, amazing details, (did I say amazing details), perfect exposure control, great DOF, stunning colours, and in case I forgot - amazing details.

This one might have been sitting on a rock, but it definitely does not look miserable. It's going straight to "my favourites".

Very well done and TFS.
Kia Ora
Loot

Hello Janice.

Excellent portrait of a Cormorant, very good details.

Regards.
Jose Luis.

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 142 W: 0 N: 248] (769)
  • [2008-02-05 0:04]

hi Janice,
great closeup! really nice POV. the lighting is great and you have fantastic focus bringing out all the detail. great job!
Gethin

Hi Janice old Friend
Yes, Long time no see, no post, but I am alive and well, and shooting more than ever before! I love this in your face mug shot! I see you have learned a lot and improved a lot, that is good. Thanks for popping in
Regards
CAllie

very nice and funny face, TFS Ori

hi Janice,
the cormorant so closely did not ever seen
incredible catch and excellent details
interesting to note that explains the value of divine shang for maori
thanks for sharing sERGIO

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