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Hide and seek - colour and pattern


Hide and seek - colour and pattern
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3815 W: 505 N: 8095] (27712)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-11-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 100, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Hide & Seek [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-12-13 3:30
Viewed: 1567
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Mandarin male are one of the most beautifully colored of all waterfowl. The head of the male has a chestnut and green crest, a wide white stripe along the eye, a bright chestnut colored side and a red bill. The male's breast is plum colored, its belly is white, its back is dark and its sides are mottled buff.

Hide and seek - colour and pattern This factfile describes how colour and pattern are adaptations that help species' survival. Colours and patterns may help species to hide (camouflage) or be seen. The factfile considers why this is necessary for survival.

Why be coloured/patterned? Colours and patterns enable animals to be seen or avoid being seen. They help predators to hide when hunting and prey animals to avoid being detected. Colours and patterns are useful for recognition, courtship displays and warning. Some species (like cuttlefish and chameleons) can change colour - possibly as a way of communicating their moods or intentions.

Camouflage - Colours and patterns to conceal

Cryptic colours: Being the same colour or pattern as your background.

Disruptive colouration: Having a pattern - stripes, spots or blotches - that breaks up your shape, making you difficult to see. The colours and patterns of Mandarin and Carolina Ducks break up their shape in the dappled shade of woodlands. Some species, like Bitterns and Tawny Owls, disrupt their body shape by fluffing up feathers to look bigger and intimidate enemies. Owl butterflies have false eye patterns on their wings to startle would-be predators.

Countershading: Many animals are dark on top and lighter underneath. This makes them look flatter and harder to see. Penguins in water, male Tufted Duck.

Seasonal camouflage: Wildfowl lose all their feathers at once during an annual moult. In preparation for this vulnerable period, brightly coloured male ducks (drakes) grow female-like camouflaged feathers so they remain hidden. This is called eclipse plumage. Most duck species.

Display: Many male ducks are brightly patterned throughout the breeding season and use the colours in signals, advertising and displays. Male ducks of most species from Mallards to Mandarins.

Recognition: Specific colours and patterns help species, sexes, parents, babies and individuals to recognize each other.

The above obtained from http://www.wwtlearn.org.uk

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 11:34 a.m.
Date: 20th November 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/250
F-Stop: F/8
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 100
Original file type: Digital Raw
red45, Janice, dew77, scottevers7, moemf, livios, Fisher, Dave, klemmg, wallhalla15, sfirmston has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-12-13 3:40]

Very nice POV this time Pam! Lovely face and colours, interesting note.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-12-13 3:55]

Pam, your boy looks beautiful! Excellent capture, his colours just shine out of the photo. Very, very well shown, thank you...

This is so cute..lovely shot inspite of the subject looking the other way. Excellent colours, sharpness and details. TFS

What a competition of colours! Contrasting and combining among them to make this bird so beautiful!
Splendid photo.

Regards, Petru

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-12-13 5:30]

Hello Pam!
Very nice capture.POV,DOF you managed,vivid colors,sharpness,framing and composition are wonderful.
TFS...:-)

Hi Pam,
An outstanding shot. I love the composition and framing, including the POV on this shot. Stunning colors and detail. Great notes as always.
Scott

  • Great 
  • moemf Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 116 W: 0 N: 160] (701)
  • [2005-12-13 9:21]

Hi

Brilliant colours and lovely touch with the water drop on the beak. Very well captured!

Thanks

Reinier

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-12-13 9:33]

Pam, this is beautiful and sharp.

Great composition, wonderful colors all around, perfect exposure.

A very pleasing image.

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-12-13 10:07]

Hi Pam,

Excelent shot and well done on the composition.
Excellent presentation.

Mike

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2005-12-13 11:13]

Very pretty Pam!
Excellent focus and composition!
Thanks,
Dave

Hi Pam,
this is a wonderful dug, the colours are so brilliant, I like it very much, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2005-12-13 16:52]

Very good colourful capture, good compo and interesting note. Some young waterbirds have striped patterns, which I find look like ripples in the water and should provide camouflage even out on the open water.
Regards,
Gabi

Lovely capture Pam,
Good detail and colours. Great POV and sharpness.
Nicely composed and good exposure.
Thanks for posting. Have a good week.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2005-12-14 0:24]

Pam you did it again, another beautiful shot of a beautiful bird ! Please if you see Santa Claus can you ask him to bring me a 100-400 ? I've been good all year long ! :-)

Congratulations !

Mario

Hello Pam, this is an excellent Picture. Great colours, excellent sharpness, a very nice composition. Well done.

What beautiful colours Pam and you have captured them so well along with a great POV, you make very jealous with all these great shots.

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