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Die Jackass
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Josh Crozier (Humanist)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 52 W: 11 N: 145]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif) (541) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-07-24 |
| Categories: Birds |
| Camera: Nikon Coolpix 8800 |
| Exposure: f/5.2, 1/185 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-12-14 20:52 |
| Viewed: 1118 |
| Points: 10 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
A Jackass penguin AKA African penguin at the Berlin Zoo. The title of the picture is a play on "Die" which I think means "the" in English. If I'm wrong, please correct me.
From Wikipedia:
The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the Jackass Penguin (after its loud mating call), and the Blackfooted Penguin, is found on the south-western coast of Africa, living in colonies on 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, near Port Elizabeth, South Africa, with the largest colony on Dyer Island, near Kleinbaai. Two colonies were established by penguins in the 1980s on the mainland near Cape Town at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town and Stony Point in Betty's Bay. Mainland colonies probably only became possible in recent times due the reduction of predator numbers, although the Betty's Bay colony has been attacked by leopards. The only other mainland colony is in Namibia, but it is not known when this was established.
Boulders Beach is a popular tourist attraction, for the beach, swimming and the penguins. The penguins will allow people to approach them as close as a meter (three feet), and so are much photographed.
The closest relatives of the African Penguins are the Humboldt and Magellanic penguins found in southern South America and the Galápagos Penguin found in the Pacific Ocean near the equator. African Penguins like warm weather.
African Penguins grow to 68-70 cm (26.7-27.5 in) tall and weigh between 2 and 4 kilograms. They have a black stripe and black spots on the chest, the spots being unique for every penguin, like human fingerprints. They have pink sweat glands above their eyes. The hotter the penguin gets, the more blood is sent to these sweat glands so it may be cooled by the surrounding air, thus making the glands more pink. The males are larger than the females and have larger beaks, but their beaks are pointer than those of the Humboldt.
They breed throughout the year, the main breeding season starting in February. Females lay two eggs, with an incubation period of 38-42 days. They are a monogamous species and the lifelong partners take turns to incubate their eggs and feed their young. The moulting season is between October and February, with the majority of the birds moulting in November and December, after which they head out to sea to feed (since they do not feed during moulting season and remain on land). Their diet includes small fish such as sardines and anchovies. The penguins obtain water from the fish they eat.
African Penguins have an average lifespan of 10-11 years, the females reaching sexual maturity at the age of 4 years, and males at the age of 5 years. The highest recorded age for a bird of this species has been 24, however several individual birds have lived to be up to 40 years old in aquarium settings. The current population (as of 2003) estimated at 179,000 adults, with 56,000 breeding pairs. |
Alex99, JoseMiguel, marhowie, fiyo has marked this note useful
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ahhh hes very cute...:o) nice shot.TFS
Donna :o)
Thanks for your comment on my photo " After The Storm" :o)
- Alex99
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3584 W: 143 N: 5669]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(18531) - [2006-12-15 3:30]
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Hi Josh.
I almost every day have visited your pages in hope to see your new remarkable works. And at now is such day. I am very glad for meeting with you.
Very nice close-up picture of this cute creature. Excellent sharpness and details, attractive drops on the body of your personage. Very nice colours despite of complex light, Great DOF and interesting impressive POV. Excellent cropping. Very nice note. Bravo and my wishes to share your pictures more often. TFS and best regards.
Alexei.
Hello Josh,
I like a lot the "pose" of this penguin, it looks kind of vulnerable...and the way is looking at you.
The composition is good, also the DOF used on it.
Perhaps is a little bright over the penguin's head.
Congratulations and thanks for share,
JM
Hello Josh.
Nice shot for its POV & overall composition.
Good details and sharpness as well.
This is an example where a minus exposure setting, combined with light fill flash would help, since the light seems to coming from above, and slightly behind your subject..
Black & whites together are always difficult :)
Happy Holidays!
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- fiyo
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 987 W: 5 N: 2762]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(10618) - [2006-12-18 6:43]
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Hello Josh,
Great shot, very good POV and pose. Very well done .TFS.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :)
