Some more open winged birds Photo

Photographer’s Note

Following the yesterday’s picture, I felt like showing you some more open winged birds.

These are marabus, a necrophagus African bird thought by most to be a rather ugly creature. But I love them! Besides being a very big bird, they have a mix of awkwardness and seriousness to them that I find very appealing. They remind me a lot of bureaucrats in suit.

Again, I don’t really know why they open their wings like this, but I think it’s probably for cooling. Does anyone know?

The shot was taken in Lake Naivasha, the closest lake to Nairobi, about 100km north. It is a privileged place for bird watching, but there is also an incredible variety and abundance of other animals. You can camp by the lake, which is a fantastic experience. And maybe have a night visit from an hippo or two (which I did!).

rakeshgupta, ChrisJ, HOBO, berek, PixelTerror, papagolf21, Gerrit, Tue, paura has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

rakeshgupta (2670) 2005-11-29 4:24

Hello Ricardo, I love your shot from nature side. Nice action captured like portait photography where background is little blurred. I have a little point noticable in the form of a like between your image. I think your scanner is due for servicing. Thank you for sharing this nice photo.

ChrisJ (70443) 2005-11-29 4:51

Hi Ricardo

Good graphism of dark on light. Excellent sharpness, & superb color & light. I like the symmetry of the vultures.

prumod (8264) 2005-11-29 8:21

hi ricardo
wonderful is your bird show... and those friends are highly cooperating with you...
regards
pramod

HOBO (5244) 2005-11-29 8:36

Ola Ricardo,
looks like preparing for take off or just drying wings.
Amazing view; well done.
Regards
Knut

berek (29019) 2005-11-29 10:19

Hi Ricardo.
Very interesting picture. good timing. TFS
B.Erek
Sharpness : 7/10
Light : 7/10
Colour : 7/10
Composition : 9/10
Idea :10/10
Note :9/10

Graal (58714) 2005-11-29 10:35

Hi Ricardo,
interesting marabus, photo good to TN. Nice pose of birds. Good colours and note. I like it.
Rgs, Aleksander

fverde (1699) 2005-11-29 12:29

Olá Ricardo!
Adoro este tipo de fotos e sinto alguma inveja por não poder ser eu a presenciar esta situação. É uma imagem que poderia facilmente ilustrar um artigo da National Geographic. A pose das aves é excelente e o momento muito bem captado. Fantástica! Parabéns e um abraço!
Fernando.

rosaline (0) 2005-11-29 16:08

Ricardo
This is a nice nature shot. It should be put in a nature magazine. Nice modelling and framing. The outstretched wings add a good poise to the birds. Nice work

Aubrey

coco (28106) 2005-11-29 17:41

Hola Ricardo.
Good composition and technically also good. Obviously scanned. Perhaps a bite more of sharpness would be good, but now is also good.
Also interesting subject.

Regards.

Galmeida (12559) 2005-11-29 18:53

Olá Ricardo,
Uma fotografia bem dificil de realizar e concerteza que a tirou com um grande zoom. Mesmo assim a focajem está bastante boa e a luminosidade brilhante não ajudou. É também uma imagem passada por Scanner o que diminui substancialmente a qualidade. Bom enquadramento e momento decisivo de captura. Realizada com sucesso pese embora ter um grande coificiente de dificuldade. Por isso e não só os meus parabéns. Obrigado pelo centenário na sua visita. Até breve porque quero ver o que vem a seguir.

Obrigado por partilhar e pelas suas criticas inteligentes no espirito verdadeiro do TE.
Fernando

PixelTerror (86837) 2005-11-30 4:23

Ola Ricardo,
Impressive birds for sure and I like here you shot just right to show as well how wide their wings are, I believe they must be cousins of the storks we have in our countries. I had heard about these marabus, but I think it's the first time I get to see some on a photo, obrigado !
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

papagolf21 (56733) 2005-11-30 6:16

Bonjour Ricardo,
Ces oiseaux mangeurs de cadavres n'ont pas une très bonne réputation ! C'est vrai qu'ils peuvent rappeler certains hommes de loi !
S'ils étirent leurs ailes c'est pour mieux croquer leurs proies, n'ayant pas de babines, ils les déploient avec un certain plaisir : attention que le photographe ne soit pas la proie de ces oiseaux.
Très belle photographie impressionnante.
Très bon cadrage.
Amitiés.
Philippe

john_c (24635) 2005-11-30 13:24

Hi Ricardo,
You made me laugh with your analogy to these birds being like bureaucrats in suits! I like the clarity as to the birds and their alignment together. The blurry background is no problem, though the scan as to the foreground grass is a little problematic. Overall, a very fine capture.
John

Fis2 (46365) 2005-11-30 14:20

Hi Ricardo!
Your photo is nicely. Good composition, frame and depth. Good colours. Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Krzysztof

jbweasle (9294) 2005-12-01 13:06

Hello Ricardo, thanks for showing us these interesting birds. You have caught them in a great pose with their wings open. Good use of shallow DOF to make them stand out from the background.

devimeuxbe (56334) 2005-12-01 16:15

Hi Ricardo
The marabus are very strange birds. There heads are not very beautifull. Nice capture.
Thanks to share
Bertrand

jasmis (50979) 2005-12-03 11:12

Ready to fly? Go! Excelent photo and interesting note. Good observation and fine framing.

Tue (25608) 2006-02-18 17:11

Hej Ricardo,
Another great bird-picture, now from Kenya. A very nice picture of those marabus standing there in the grass with their wings opened. It really gives a very nice view. Good work!
Hilsner,
Lars

paura (39202) 2008-03-07 3:47

Ricardo,
O bicha é algo interessante mas um pouquinho feio, não? Lembra alguma coisa os Urubu brasileiro. Vc conhece?

Abraço

Paulo

jmdias (19837) 2009-11-02 5:19

ricardo

os urubús e os biguás daqui abrem as asas para secar as penas quando estão milhados (os primeiro por causa da chuva e os últimos por conta dos mergulhos na água), estes aqui devem estar mesmo se refrescando.
bela cena, os animais bem colocados , até os papiros são visíveis ao fundo.

lindo trabalho

abraços

jorge