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"Pretty fly for a white guy"


Photo Information
Copyright: Livio Soares de Medeiros (livios) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, Hoya 58mm UV
Exposure: f/8, 1/1000 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds in Brazil 2, Nature in Patos de Minas 3, More photos with titles of songs [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-05-21 19:38
Viewed: 1989
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
ISO 200 was used in the capture.
_____

The Great Egret (Ardea alba), also known as the Great White Egret, White Heron, or Common Egret, is a wading egret, found in most of the tropical and warmer temperate parts of the world, although it is very local in southern Europe and Asia. It is called Kotuku in New Zealand. It should not be confused with the Great White Heron, which is a white morph of the Great Blue Heron found in Florida.

The Great Egret is a large bird, 101 cm long and weighing 950 g. It is only slightly smaller than the Great Blue or Grey Herons. It has all white plumage. Apart from size, it can be distinguished from other white egrets by its yellow bill and black legs and feet. It also has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks.

The Great Egret feeds in shallow water or drier habitats, spearing fish, frogs or insects with its long, sharp bill. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim. It is a conspicuous species, usually easily seen.

The Great Egret is partially migratory, with northern hemisphere birds moving south from areas with cold winters. It breeds in colonies in trees close to large lakes with reed beds or other extensive wetlands. It builds a bulky stick nest. The call at breeding colonies is a loud croaking "krrrk".

Although generally a very successful species with a large and expanding range, the Great Egret is highly endangered in New Zealand [1], [2]. In North America, large numbers of Great Egrets were killed around the end of the 19th century so that their plumes could be used to decorate hats. Numbers have since recovered as a result of conservation measures. Its range has expanded as far north as southern Canada. However, in some parts of the southern United States, its numbers have declined due to habitat loss. This bird has been chosen as the symbol of the National Audubon Society, which was formed in part to prevent birds from being killed for their feathers. They are Protected in Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotuku)
marhowie, scottevers7, coasties, TAZ, ddg, dew77, carper, wallhalla15, Janice, ALIRIZA, Gudule has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Livio,
Great capture. Technically handled very well. I love the way the water surface texture matches the birds wings.
TFS
Paul

Excellent capture Livio, this has a very nice exposure showing great detail in the plumage of this beautiful egret. The backlighting on this one is well executed and a difficult one to master and you did great. It must be egret week. I was starting to wonder where you were. Way to go Livio! :)

Hello Livio,
Great to see a post from you again, now that you have some time..there never seems to enough of it :)
Very well exposed and sharp capture.
Your POV, DOF, and framing is great, wonderful pose here..
I like the rt wing, backlit by the sunlight also..
Very well done!

Hi Livio,
A superb shot on this Great Egret! Looks like he just launched. Great job on the exposure. Difficult subject to photograph in that light, but you nailed it. Colors and detail in the plumage look excellent.
Great Shot my friend!
Scott

Hi Livio,

Une belle photo, I like it...Congratulation !

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1552 W: 0 N: 1169] (6448)
  • [2006-05-21 23:22]

Hi Livio,
Excellent in-flight capture! Great composition, good details and nice backgroung.
Very well done!

Hi Livio

Nice to see you back! What a fantastic shot. Perfect timing. Exellent exposure with good clarity and sharpness. Great stuff my friend... thanks.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3186] (10922)
  • [2006-05-22 1:48]

Wooow ! What a wonderful and interesting action shot that you have very well done ! I like the "pose in flight" of the bird and the "texture" of water in BG. Good exposure and sharpnesse. I also appreciate the complementary note... Congratulations Livio and thanks for sharing this beauty.

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 883 W: 23 N: 930] (5015)
  • [2006-05-22 4:31]

Hello Livios, great shot. Very good exposure and timing is perfect. I like the texture of water too. Very good job, best regards, Didier.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1674 W: 5 N: 2130] (11894)
  • [2006-05-22 7:47]

Bonjour Livio!

Excellente prise,l'éclairage offre un ambiance calme et le vol de l'oiseau semble s'effectuer tout en douceur. Félicitations pour la composition et la netteté.

Merci pour l'envoie.

joseph

Livio,

Great action pic you have submitted. The composition and sharpness are great. TFS,
Sheriff

Good work on an difficult shot - the colours, exposure, POV and details are great!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-05-22 8:33]

Hello Livio,
Excellent capture,exposure is spot on.Lighting,details on white feathers and moment you caught are wonderful.
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3100 W: 234 N: 5929] (20008)
  • [2006-05-22 10:30]

Hello Livio,
Great to see you again.
A beautiful bird in a gorgeous pose you have caught.
Very sharp details for this in-flight shot, every feather in the wing is crisp. The light coming through the wings is perfect, as is the exposure on the whole bird. A fantastic capture. TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2192 W: 124 N: 2599] (8406)
  • [2006-05-22 10:57]

very good one my friend,
you become a real profi with the flying bird captures. It's a fantastic shot, great with the light and very good in pov, very good job.
gr. jaap

hi livio
excellente photo,même l'exposition est bonne sur cet oiseau blanc.
bravo.
laurent

Hello Livio, great to see post from you. -
Fantastic shot here, excellent framing, sharpness and lovely colours. Excellent POV and DOF and great pose here. This is a wonderful composition my friend. Thank you.
Gr.
Heinz

Hola Livio,
Has retratado realmente bien a esta blanquísima garza, muy dificil de tomar con detalles por su intenso reflejo, pero le has tomado la vuelta. en estos días estoy intentando acercarme en algún angulo correcto aestas aves, pero sin éxito.
La composición y los detalles son muy buenos.
TFS
Hernán

  •      
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3464 W: 145 N: 5942] (17790)
  • [2006-05-23 22:14]

Hello Livio, good to see you.
What a beautiful composition of the Egret. It is flying ever so elegantly over the water. And the sun shining at the left gives an excellent lift to the image. Well captured, thank you
Janice

Hi Livio,
Wonderful flying shot. BG, framing, light, POV and nice colors are very good. Congratulations...
Ali Rıza

  • Great 
  • Gudule Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 248 W: 11 N: 288] (1204)
  • [2006-06-04 15:36]

Bonjour Livio,
Très belle et intéressante capture de cet Grande Aigrette en plein vol. Ce que j'aime beaucoup, c'est un certain graphisme occasionné par les lignes horizontales du fond bleu (l'eau en arrière-plan) avec les lignes des ailes de l'Aigrette. C'est magnifique, très design. Couleurs très douces.
FÉlicitations, Livio.

Great title, Livio, and nice image to match! I'm chuckling, but also admiring the in-flight composition, the sharpness, and your ability to effectively bring out the details of those wings against the sun-dappled light tones of the water. Well done!

Perfeita!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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