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Koala


Koala
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris Chafer (sandpiper2) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1906 W: 107 N: 4875] (16757)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-31
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Fujifilm Finepix S5000, Fujinon 10X zoom
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/60 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Mammals of Australia [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-09-12 7:41
Viewed: 21277
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
There have been around 300 native terrestrial mammal species recorded in Australia since European occupation of the continent commenced in 1788. This includes 160 marsupials, 64 rodents, 76 bats and 2 monotremes (the egg-laying platypus and echidna).
One of best-known Australian marsupials is the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) a large, stocky arboreal quadruped that is sparsely distributed through the eucalypt forests of eastern Australia.
The Koala is a generally nocturnal mammal, whose diet consists entirely of eucalypt leaves and they can sleep for up to 20 hours a day. They are mostly observed in the tops of eucalypt trees [asleep] and despite their size (as big as a 2-3 yr old child and weight 14kg), they can be deceptively hard to find. I’ve spent over 30 years wandering around the eastern forests and I’ve only seen them a dozen times. Although they spend most of their time in trees, they do come to the ground to move from tree to tree and are quite agile on the ground.
Koala mate in the spring and males can become very active in their quest for a lady friend. They also become noisy and a lusty male can bellow and squeal like a male boar. A single young is produced and remains in the mothers pouch for up to six months and is then carried on the mothers back until they gain independence at around 12 month. One of the weirdest sounds of the Australian bush is a distraught young Koala; they can sound just like a human baby crying.
This one was captured at Featherdale Wildlife Park in western Sydney. Hope you like it, thanks for looking.
Fisher, marhowie, thistle, annagrace, radz, Luc, coasties, TAZ, baudinm, ellis49 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To baudinm: no flashsandpiper2 3 09-14 07:37
To TAZ: to cuddle a koalasandpiper2 1 09-13 09:07
To Fisher: what is wrongsandpiper2 2 09-12 18:32
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Chris, This has clear details with a great POV and pose. Well composed shot also.
Well done.

Nice shot Chris!
I agree with Mike that it's not perfect. I have feeling that it's to bright, maybe because of the white BG. Whole is also a bit noisy, however I like the framing here and the lovely model, of course :)
Overall, very interesting post.
WELL DONE & TFS

Nice portrait shot Chris, great sharpness and DOF, well captured too. Thanks for sharing.

Wonderful capture. I didn't know they were so elusive. I just saw them in the Sydney Zoo and of course we have them at our zoo in Atlanta too. I think the fill flash was helpful as you can show great detail on this cute marsupial.

Thanks for sharing,

Alli

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 11 N: 72] (436)
  • [2005-09-12 12:05]

Cute shot!!!!!GOOD COMPOSITION&EXCELLENT EYE CONTACT!

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-09-12 15:30]

Hi Chris
Nice portrait and details of the fur. Well framed too. The BG is not the prettiest.
Toni

Hi Chris,

Excellent effort on this capture and well composed.
Sorry, but the fuji got the better of ya. Either that, or the post pro. Something went wrong. Seen much better from you.

Mike

Hi Chris

Lovely big bright eyes. Good light and clarity. The catchlight is perfect. Nice work. TFS.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-09-13 7:12]
  • [+]

What a lovely and interesting Koala that you have well captured ! I would like to caress him ;-) Colors, POV and sharpness are very good. Thanks for sharing Chris.

Hi Chris,
This portrait of koala is very nice.
The point of view is good, as well as the framing.
I do not like the light, which seems to be flat (may be this is the consequence of the white background or the flash).
I like to see the hair of this animal (the sharpness is excellent).
Amicalement,
Michaël

Very nice and cute, Chris.
I like the POV and composition.
Good details and nice colours.
VBery well done.

  • Great 
  • optic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 322 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-09-21 22:10]

Hello Chris,
What a great portrait of the Koala l like his bright eyes, colours & light are great,

Well done

TFS,

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2005-09-29 17:55]

Chris, lovely pose and creature. Despite the background, it's a pleasure to check this photo. It would be really nice to cuddle him, but I read abourt the extra tax we must pay for that...

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