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The "Look"


The
Photo Information
Copyright: Selen Ediger (SelenE) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2249 W: 65 N: 4205] (13972)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-29
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Hoya UV 77mm
Exposure: f/16, 1/25 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Endangered [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-07-15 3:17
Viewed: 4945
Points: 41
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Galapagos giant tortoise
Geochelone nigra
Endemic
Red list status

The giant tortoise is probably the best known of all Galapagos animals and even gave the archipelago its name; 'Galapago' means tortoise in Spanish and may derive from the word for saddle, referring to the distinctive saddle-like shell of some of the tortoises.

The Galapagos giant tortoise is the first species that many people think of as representing the natural biodiversity of the archipelago. Their populations
were shattered by the arrival of humans. Hunting tortoises for meat greatly affected their numbers, and destruction caused by introduced species has compounded the problem. Scientists working for the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) are attempting to restore the Galapagos giant tortoise and the ecosystems it depends on for survival.

Unique to Galapagos
Genetic studies have shown that tortoises in Galapagos probably evolved from a single ancestor. There are now 11 species of giant tortoises endemic to Galapagos.

A Galapagos giant tortoise can measure up to 170 centimeters across its carapace and weigh up to 300 kilograms. Tortoises can live to more than 100 years in age, with the oldest animal thought to have been 170 years old.

Tortoises are vegetarian and eat a wide variety of plants, including Opuntia cacti. The different carapaces have probably evolved as adaptations to the
different environments on each island. Saddle-back types are raised at the front to allow the tortoises’ long necks to reach for higher vegetation on drier
islands. Dome-shaped tortoises do not need to reach for food on moist islands where lower vegetation is available; however the shape of their shell
helps them push through dense growth.

In highland areas, tortoises can be seen wallowing in shallow pools formed by rain or dew dripping from leaves. Tortoises stand and stretch their necks
to give birds access to remove parasites. When frightened, tortoises retract their heads and legs into the protective shell, making a hissing noise as air escapes from the lungs.

Vulnerability
About 250,000 tortoises are estimated to have lived in Galapagos before the arrival of humans. Current populations stand at around 20,000 individuals.
There were probably 14 species of Galapagos giant tortoises; only 11 remain.

The IUCN Red List categorizes the species as Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered or Extinct in the Wild.

Threatened by: introduced species,habitat destruction,
historical predation by humans

During the 19th century, tortoises were a popular source of fresh meat as they could stay alive for as much as a year without food or water. Females were
hunted first as they were smaller than males and were more accessible in lowland areas during the egg-laying season.
Today, the biggest problem facing the endemic giant Galapagos tortoise on many islands is that of introduced species. Introduced rats and ants destroy
tortoise eggs and consume hatchlings, preventing the regeneration of tortoise populations. Invasive herbivores, such as goats, donkeys, pigs and cattle,
destroy the vegetation and compete with tortoises for food. Goat populations grow rapidly, causing erosion and changing the appearance on the land.

Source: Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands (AISBL), Galapagos, Ecuador

Exposure program: Manual
Exposure Time: 1/25
F-Stop: f/16.0
ISO Speed Ratings: 400
Focal Length: 100 mm (full frame)
Date Taken: 2007-04-29 09:46
Metering Mode: Partial
White balance: Manual; cloudy
Weather conditions- Cloudy
Monopod
Kathleen, GLEM, vanderschelden, egeerhan, jmirah, kjpweb, Jamesp, gracious, rousettus, ciccio, Kaszek, hester, rcrick, dew77, ecem35, delic has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To hester: POVSelenE 1 07-16 13:46
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1739 W: 224 N: 6872] (24909)
  • [2007-07-15 3:19]

Hi Selen,
a great shot.
Very sharp capture.
Well composed and detailed.
Well done,
Joe

Hi Selen.
Wonderful shot. Sharp where needed with excellent detail. Great capture of 'The Look' it is giving you.
Wonderful

Kathleen
New Zealand

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 540 W: 87 N: 750] (10)
  • [2007-07-15 3:44]

salut SELEN,

voici un animal qui ne rsique pas de faire un flou à l'image :D ; bonne idée et surtout bon résulat. Les détails sont merveilleux, le cadrage bien pensé.

gl

Hello Selen,
Very good compo and depth in the image.
Nice colours.
That eye is really too crazy!
Well done
TFS
Annick

Merhaba Selen,
Bakışını harika yakalamışsın. Kompozisyon da çok güzel. eline sağlık

Great "Earthy" photo...Fine detail and POV...Impressive note...TFS
Jim

Wonderful capture with stunning detail and light! Excellent!
Cheers, Klaus

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2007-07-15 8:31]

Hi Selen

Great POV and focus. The exposure is great too. An engaging shot.

James

Merhaba Selen,
Salem!!
Good composition with total sharpness, clarity, real colour and details all round
very well presented and well seen
thanks for sharing
Tony

merhaba Selen hanım,
kaplumbağalar, kuşlar kadar dikkatimi çekmese de, Galapagos'un isminin geldiği bu dev ve çok uzun ömürlü hayvanlar, istisna diyebilirim. Harukulade detay, netlik bence müthiş. Poz, kompozisyon da çok başarılı. eline sağlık, selamlar. Ahmet

  • Great 
  • ciccio Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 221 W: 50 N: 338] (2751)
  • [2007-07-15 13:53]

Hola Selen, vaya mirada del galápago gigante. :-). Muy buena composición y pose de este animal antediluviano. Muy buena calidad y las luces muy bién. Un saludo y gracias por compartir. Well done

José Luis

  • Good 
  • ridfa Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 89 W: 0 N: 376] (4111)
  • [2007-07-15 23:13]

Hi Selen,

J'aime bien le cadrage original de ta photo même si la tortue (les tortues) se distinguent difficilement en raison d'un environnement de même couleur.

TFS

Best regards


Ridfa

Hi Selen,
Nice shot of this oooold turtle.
Good sharpness and composition. That eye is crazy ;)
TFS
Lukasz

hi selen,
nice capture, very good pov, sharp image with good colours, liked the eye contact very much, nice composition,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2007-07-16 10:15]
  • [+]

Hi Selen

Great eye contact (what an evil stare!). It really is an excellent POV you must be on the ground with him? Nice composition and nicely sharp

TFS

Karan

Hi Selen, Excellent composition & sharpness great capture if only "The Look" could talk ?

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-07-17 19:55]

Hello Selen

A very sad posting,I hope efforts will strengthen the numbers of this amazing creature.Excellent focus with sharp details.The eye contact is wonderful,and the pose adds to the feeling of struggle that these tortoises face.an excellent natural history document.TFS

It's sure nice to see all the exotic species you present us.
More...the way you capture them is brilliant.
I would love to spend time in such a place for photo opportunities as this.
I wanna come there!!!!

The capture with his eye like that is sure a look worth taking.
Nice presentation.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2007-07-19 1:29]

Merhaba Selen,
Bakış noktasını çok güzel seçmişsin.Detaylar,ışık ve kaplumbağanın bakışı da mükemmel.Ellerine sağlık!

Bakışı çok iyi yakalamışsın, netlik ve kompozisyonu çok beğendim. eline sağlık
sevgiler

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 440 W: 6 N: 310] (898)
  • [2007-07-30 0:05]

Merhaba Selen,
Fena halde yan bakiyor. Belki de Clark atiyordur sana :). Bu türün 100-200 yas arasi ömrü olmasina sasirdim. Kaplumbaglar daha uzun yasar diye bilirdim, yaniliyor muyum? Tabii cüsse büyüdükçe ortalama yasam süresi kisaliyor olabilir.
Selamlar,
Hakan

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