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Fish Eater


Fish Eater
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3749 W: 483 N: 8155] (28054)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-11-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 200, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-12-08 3:49
Viewed: 3560
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cormorants and shags are medium-to-large seabirds. The majority, including all Northern Hemisphere species, have mainly dark plumage, but some Southern Hemisphere species are black and white, and a few (e.g. the Spotted Shag of New Zealand) are quite colourful. Many species have areas of coloured skin on the face (the lores and the gular skin) which can be bright blue, orange, red or yellow, typically becoming more brightly coloured in the breeding season. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed, a distinguishing feature among the Pelecaniformes order.

They are coastal rather than oceanic birds, and some have colonised inland waters. They range around the world, except for the central Pacific islands.

All are fish-eaters, dining on small eels, fish, and even water snakes. They dive from the surface, though many species make a characteristic half-jump as they dive, presumably to give themselves a more streamlined entry into the water. Under water they propel themselves with their feet. Some cormorant species have been found, using depth gauges, to dive to depths of as much as 45 metres.

After fishing, cormorants go ashore, and are frequently seen holding their wings out in the sun; it is assumed that this is to dry them. Unusually for a water bird, their feathers are not waterproofed. This may help them dive quickly, since their feathers do not retain air bubbles.

Cormorants are colonial nesters, using trees, rocky islets, or cliffs. The eggs are a chalky-blue colour. There is usually one brood a year. The young are fed through regurgitation. They typically have deep, ungainly bills which make it obvious that they are related to pelicans.

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 6:45 p.m.
Date: 15th November 2006
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS USM
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/250
F-Stop: F/6.3
Focal Length: 400mm
Support: Hand Held
ISO: 200
Original file type: Digital Raw
Alex99, red45, nainnain, Calianis, Fisher, ramthakur, fiyo, Signal-Womb, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Alex99: As though you with Janice photographed the samecoasties 1 12-08 04:10
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Pam.
Excellent portrait. As though you with Janice photographed the same model, standing side by side. Great details and sharpness, wonderful illumination and POV, harmonic BG. Superb done and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2006-12-08 4:25]

Hi Pam!

Funny shag this time :-) Looks like after close meeting with hammer :-) But seriously - very good portrait as always. Quality is superb, same as pose and composition. Pity that its eye isn't emerald ;-)

hello PAM
tres jolie macro, bon profil, bg super, couleurs bien vues
excellent
amitiès
edith

Hi Pam,

Great portrait with excellent details, POV and composition.

TFS.

hi pam,
this is a very fine portrait shot of this fish eater,
excellent sharpness with fine details,
nice pov, good dof,
lovely natural colours,
framed well,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi Pam,
Great portrait with excellent details.

Biswarup

Hi Pam,
A splendid portrait. Perfect settings with all fine details and texture are clearly seen. Very well done and TFS.
JC

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2006-12-08 10:06]

Hi Pam,

Nicely captured, well done on this portrait.

Mike

Excellent portrait of this guy :) It's just to frame and put on the wall :)
I have seen many of this kind bird and most of them had green or yellow eyes colours & your guy had gray.
TFS
Ralf

Your close-up facial portraits are matchless in every respect, Pam, and this one is no exception.
I love the way you have captured all the subtle details and colours, especially around the perfectly spherical eye.
Thanks for your visit and comment on my recent picture.
Ram

Hi Pam,

WoW what an EXELLENT detailed close up
Perfect sharpness, colours, POV and BG
nicely framed

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1053 W: 5 N: 3475] (15161)
  • [2006-12-09 2:22]

Very nice portrait, POV and colours Pam. I also like frame. Good work!

Wow an excellent shot I can barely get close to these! you got some nice detail and very sharp well done best rgds Necip.

You do seem to get in very close with the birds Pam. I don't know how many time Iv chased, creped and hide in the bushes to get this close only to watch them fly away. Excellent capture as always with fine details and great composition/presentation. Very well done.

Hi Pam,
wonderful portrait.
Perfect details, well balanced subtle colours.
Quintessential reduction. Excellent work.
Thank you! Best regards,
Peter

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