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Gentle Giant


Gentle Giant
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3316 W: 149 N: 6113] (18648)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-12-29
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Tamron 28-300 XR
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turtles - Tortugas - Tortues [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-01-03 3:33
Viewed: 1308
Points: 51
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Galapagos Tortoise
Geochelone Elephantopus

Here is another photo of the Galapagos Tortoise that I saw at the Auckland Zoo. His head was a bit OE in many of the photos, so I hope this one has come out okay. From the look of his face he has been eating grass. As we watched him he walked very slowly down the hill to the mud pond when he was in yesterday’s photo.

The Galapagos Islands are named for the 250,000 giant tortoises that lived on the islands - "galapago" in Spanish means saddle and refers to the tortoise shell. Today, only 15,000 of these giants are left.

There were 15 subspecies, although only 11 still exist today. They have become extinct because of over hunting, and the introduction of goats, pigs, dogs and other animals that trample or eat the tortoise eggs and compete for food.

The Galapagos tortoise comes in three versions, which are distinguished by the shape of their shells, sizes, colours and behaviour:

Saddle-Backed: Mostly found on the lower drier islands. They have raised shells, long necks and limbs.

Dome-Shaped: Found on the upper parts of the islands, where plant growth is dense and thick. They have round shaped shells, very short necks and limbs.

Intermediate: This third race is a mix between the two described above.

www.kidzworld.com/

I changed the title I gave this photo when reading Scott's words about him on yesterday's post to GENTLE GIANT.
Thanks Scott (Evers).
dew77, gerhardt, NINIX, Dave, thistle, magiqa, PDP, correp01, annagrace, Robespierre, marhowie, Luc, scottevers7, livios, andtine, Lourens, Toni, slrnovice2 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cloverstar: ThxJanice 1 01-16 14:27
To Callie: Thx CallieJanice 1 01-13 04:04
To andtine: Thanks AndrewJanice 1 01-07 01:41
To Avare: Thank youJanice 1 01-05 14:38
To magiqa: TortoiseJanice 1 01-04 05:18
To Luc: ABCJanice 1 01-04 05:05
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-01-03 3:48]

Hello Janice!
Amazing portrait.POV,details,framing,3D effect and eye contact are excellent.TFS...:-)

Great shot Janice. Excellent detail and POV. DOF is perfect.

Thanx for sharing

Great shot, not may would look this good after 100 years or so living in and around the sea. Good commentary too. Good close up of this face. See the worn teeth make it pretty special.

It's an interesting POV and a lovley subject. The bright top of the head I find a bit distracting though.

  • Great 
  • NINIX Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 161 W: 48 N: 347] (2885)
  • [2006-01-03 5:07]

He jansje,

I had again a look at the nature site and saw this monster. It is realy a prehistoric face. Very good picture.

Hendrik

Hi,
Great perspective!
The composition is good and I like of colours.
Ana:)

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2006-01-03 7:31]

Hi Janice,
Good thing he is gentle, cause he sure looks scary in this shot...
Very interesting and nice perspective though! Up close and personal!
The eye contact is super!
Great job!
Thanks,
Dave

Very interesting shot Janice,
It looks quite exceptionaly maybe even a bit weird. Picture has good details and great framning.
I like it.
WELL DONE!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-01-03 13:50]

Hello Janice, extreme close up of this face that only a mother could love. Nice work, well done.

Lovely creature!! I saw some of them in I think Auckland zoo or maybe it was on Tahiti. I would like to visit the Galapagos islands! That is a must! Turtles are so photogenique in more than one way, you do not need to hurry with taking the picture! Well done!

Hello Janice

Strange and strong portrait
TFS

Awesome capture Janice! The DOF is perfect. What a strange face, he looks like an old man. Well seen and happy new year!

Alli

Bravo Janice!
A very original portrait of this Tortoise.
POV is well choosen and you made a right crop Compliments! TFS and Regards, Ruud

Giant and gentile he may be, but like they say - he's got a face only a mother could love ;-) Well composed with great detail Janice. His mug stands out in the frame nicely. Well done.
Thank you!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2006-01-04 1:52]
  • [+]

Hello MS&DF Janice!
Reminds me the Neverending Story I, a movie which I saw several times: "I am allergic to Youth" said the turtle. It seems to be the same for this one ;-) Maybe your youth make it sick. It posts a life filled well in its face. But its glance is intact and betrays its wisdom.
Great shot!
YB&+or-YorOF

I agree with Luc this looks very much like Morla the ancient one from Shell Mountain, Nice shot of this old wise one Janice. :)

Hi Janice,
This shot just screams I am old! He has that look of age and wisdom. Great detail and texture. I like the shallow DOF. I dream of going to the Galapagos Islands someday. I remember as a small boy hand feeding one of these "Gentle Giants" at the zoo. An impression that will last a life time. Thanks!
Scott

  • Great 
  • Avare Silver Note Writer [C: 8 W: 4 N: 75] (514)
  • [2006-01-05 10:33]
  • [+]

Hello Janice,

Great POV, very nice DOF. I think it will be much better the details and DOF, if you use the F/9 or F/11
I really liked your POV. TFS

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2006-01-06 9:42]

Janice, very nice to me.

I do enjoy composition and pov. Excellent dof highlighting the head/eyes.

Great sharpness and texture.

Congratulations.

Hi Janice, Lovely shot of the Tortoise, I think the eyes looks a litle sad. Great DOF and pin sharp. I've also browsed through your gallery, you have taken some wonderful photo's. Andrew

Excellent shot, Janice!!! The detail in this portrait is superb. Great work.

Well Janice,
No one can accuse this old tile-top that he is pretty - maybe pretty daunting - he he.
A mean glint in the eye - did he have your left big toe in mind? Really like this picture.
If I may? A little more space in front of him, and a bit less behind the neck, and this would really soar.

  • Great 
  • Kris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 180 W: 0 N: 129] (1812)
  • [2006-01-13 7:55]

That's a very original object. It looks very interesting Janice.
I really like this photo.
Regards, Krzysztof.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2006-01-14 18:13]

Hi Janice
This could be ET with his strange wrinkled face. I like the way his head sticks out of the shot and the details of his skin and the grass stuck to it. It's very well positionned in the frame too.
Regards Toni

Wow! This is close Janice. What a lovely portrait of his face. Can you darken with Burn brush on the top of his head? Only a suggestion. It's a real treat to see the textures of the skin. Well done.

Hi Janice, I like this shot, the POV is really low down and the DOF is great for framing the head. It's sharp, detailed and well exposed too. Excellent composition. Very nicely done :)

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