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Looking into 2005


Looking into 2005
Photo Information
Copyright: Callie de Wet (Callie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1101 W: 95 N: 2610] (7555)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-12-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 80-400 OS
Exposure: f/11, 1/100 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2004-12-30 9:25
Viewed: 4977
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is my 100th post on TN, and I am happy to say, I will continue to post here. I contemplated many pictures of different birds, and decided that this one gives me the “right” feeling to tackle the new year. He is not scared - he is looking ahead with anticipation, but he is also looking Up. So for those who may be going through some dark or hard experiences, remember, - When the outlook is dark, try the Uplook!!! As someone who lost a dear one this year, my heart also grieve for those hit by the tsunamis in the East. May we remember then in our prayers.
As for you Guys ‘n Dolls on TN, may you encounter only the very best for 2005. Thank you to everyone who takes the time and pain to comment and share their wit and knowledge on my pictures. I appreciate every effort.

Thanks especially to Robert, who’s idea this was, and to Adam, for providing us the place to play.

Japie and I went bird hunting yesterday, and we also met Ben - Lourens at the aviary. It is always nice when one can meet fellow TNers in real life. Both Japie and Ben ogled the OS, and there may be a new wishlist for birthday gifts for the new year in certain households. A certain young gentleman even test-drived the 50-500 Sigma, & if I had such a steady hand, I would never have sold mine!

Helmeted Guineafowl – Numida meleagris – 58-64 cm. Guineafowl are large bodied, long necked game birds with casques or feather tuffs on their heads. Only 6 species are found world wide, all 6 in Africa; 2 off in SA. This is the most common one of the two species found here. These birds are about the size of domestic fowl, and can interbreed with them. They may become very tame and unfortunately, some interbreeding has taken place. Our other Guineafowl has a permed head, too lovely for words.
They are SO beautiful in a grotesque sort of way, with a face sporting two pendants in the colours of the French flag, as Bente has once commented. The body is dark grey with thousands of white speckles. The face is naked, red and blue. Flocks may number in the hundreds. They have a call that resembles a squeaky, steel-wheeled wheelbarrow, being pushed slowly.

SHOOTING DETAILS
Venue – Krugersdorp Private Game Reserve
Date 296 December 2004
Time 13h00
Camera - Nikon D70
ISO 200 & -0.7 EV.
Sigma 80-400 F4.5- 5.6 APO OS
Filter – Cokin UV
Focal length - 400 mm
Exposure mode - Aperture Priority - 1/100 @ F11
Flash – None
Support – Handheld, lying nearly flat on my side to shoot below the branches.
Little cropping; H/S; levels; hue/ saturation; S/C; Neat-Image – thanks Japie for showing the Old Man how! Some USM, , reduced to Site size.
milloup, ellis49, Fisher, willie, Luc, red45, Lourens, mogens-j, Janice, carper, jhm has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To milloup: Robert's cusineCallie 1 12-30 12:27
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Critiques [Translate]

Callie, you do have some beautifully ugly critters in your neck of the woods ;-))
Great colours, a wistful look in the eye, good POV and DOF. Isn't this one of the birds that will have Robert dashing to the oven mumbling about rare, medium or well done?? ;-))

Great post for our 100Th ; congrats.
Very good colours, DOF and details.
Great note like always.
Excellent work.

Happy New Year.

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2004-12-30 10:03]
  • [2]

Callie, nice self portrait. Oops, wrong site. :) :)
Ugly, but alot of nice colors and details. For your 100th post it is fitting as this bird looks a century. Congrats.
Well done

Mike

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2004-12-30 10:20]
  • [2]

Congratulations on the 100th Callie. Indeed a fitting shot for this occasion. Thank you for your wishes and all I can say to such a valuable member of TN, Happy New Year and may you be blessed beyond measure in 2005
Willie

Composition: ****
Sharpness: ***
Color: ****+
DOF: ***
POV: ****
Note:****

Great colors, focus a wee bit soft on the face.
TFS

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-12-30 11:51]

The interesting bit about this is that he is not only looking at the year 2005, but shorter term as well - like the two doves sitting directly above your head :)

I really like the pose and composition here. I can almost feel the anticipation.

May you and your family have a wonderful and prosperous new yer. As they say "May last years best be the new years worst!"

Baie dankie vir die lekker skiet gister. Ek het toe die lens bespreek.

Groetnis

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2004-12-30 11:56]

Congrats on your 100th post Callie! Weird but very colorful bird very well captured.

Happy New Year!

Baie mooi, Callie. Is dit 'n selfportret???!!!
Excellent sharpness and detail. I must say the Sigma OS of yours is absolutely superb.

I am not quite sure about the category here beauty or beast but it is a very good capture with wonderful colours. - Happy New Year to you and your wife.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2004-12-30 18:55]

Hey Callie, well shot - this fellow is looking ahead to the future; head on one side and definitely looking UP - the only Way to look when it is dark ahead.
Thankyou for your words and also for the encouragement you give me on my postings. I learn a lot for you 'old' guys...
Regards, Janice

very nice one Callie,
I am glad to be back. This is an ugly but so beautiful bird thats a fact.the sharpnes and the great colours are subliem, the dof is nice, fantastic job you did. goed gedaan Callie, vriend

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-01-01 16:13]

Callie, I am very happy that you are happy to say you will continue to post here.
I too have some late critics to be written, but that pleases me to hold me much longer on yours.
I do not still know why, but notes become for me a little more important than photos and I am worn to criticize more the notes. A photo is a photo; your Helmeted Guineafowl is very beautiful, with its glance pointing upward. I like it very much. But your note learns me why you chose this photo rather than an other one. Your note also shows me that you are concerned by what takes place in the world and that you are grateful to the founders of this site.
In brief, Callie, an excellent hundredth delivery: photo and note.
Thank you very much!

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 893 W: 0 N: 507] (1853)
  • [2005-01-02 3:27]

Wat een kop Callie, en de kleuren zijn zo mooi, hij kijkt misschien al verder dan 2005!!!
Groeten, John.

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