Don't clap your hands.......... Photo

Photographer’s Note

......... it might sound like a shotgun and as I'm standing directly below, the consequences to myself and my lens could be disastrous. A few miles from the city of Silves I spotted a very large flock of Storks about to land. I parked the car and left my wife with the air-conditioning, a bottle of water and rations for 3 days while I tracked the flock. After 40 minutes I was close enough for a good shot when a second flock on the same migration route flew overhead. Their airborne radar spotted me and they alerted those below so the the sky was suddenly full of wheeling storks. This is just a tiny portion of the combined flock. When I posted this on another site, someone asked how they could fly in different directions without bumping into one another. I made the mistake of suggesting they might all be male storks. So I won't do that here...

jaywalker, vincz, maloutim, maltese, mickyg, lilimih33 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jaywalker (12186) 2006-12-18 16:10

Hi Vic, A wonderfully sharp photo & the flock stand out superbly against that beautiful blue sky, great cropping & a nice capture, kind regards Wilson.

mehr (1358) 2006-12-18 16:10

Hi Vic,
very intresting and beautiful taken. All these in that blue sky.
It is a excellent job.
Imagine that everyone of those carries a baby by :O
TFS
Bahram

devimeuxbe (55673) 2006-12-18 16:23

Hi Vic
You were lucky to see such a show. Very beautifull and you also get a beautifull light on the birds.
It's excellent
Bertrand

maloutim (3903) 2006-12-18 16:51

Incredible photograph! Most people feel themselves lucky, when they see 1 stork! But to see so many on such a blue sky, and with great details and colours of the birds is just out of this world!
Well done!
Marie Louise.

maltese (21531) 2006-12-18 18:00

Hello Vic
Superbe, joli "moment décisif", très bien réalisé techniquement.
Une très belle photo
Bravo
Amicalement
Hervé

isa (1964) 2006-12-18 18:06

Interesting composition, the contrast between the birds and the color of the sky well is obtained.
Very funny the confused effect not to know for where it is the direction of voo.
Well Done,
Congratulations
Isa

mickyg (815) 2006-12-18 18:10

Well, if as they say Storks bring babies then you and Marion will have your hands full for a few years to come Vic .. seen it before and it is still an incredible shot

zumoduvas (1974) 2006-12-18 18:20

Hello Vic.

Excellent picture, nice composition and colors.

Regards.

lilimih33 (9870) 2006-12-18 18:25

Hello Vic! Great shot! Wonderful clours, sharpness and detail! Nice perspective!
Well done!
Lili

jmcl (13721) 2006-12-18 23:27

wow ... it was worth the risk .. wonderful image .. beautiful exotic looking birds ..

John

AROBN54 (10689) 2006-12-18 23:44

Beautiful!! What a great shot. Color, detail, lighting, subject... You did SUCH a fabulous job!! TFS, Shelly

vincz (19039) 2006-12-19 3:28

Great shot! it must have been such a magic moment. You got them in so many different positions. my neck is almost hurting since i want to keep looking at them as long as I can :) great catch!

Deepforest (8813) 2006-12-19 14:59

Hello Vic,
excellent capture of the white storks!! Fantastic blue sky and perfect sharpness. I like this shot very much.
The storks just as raptors take the advantage of raiseing air currents. These currents help them to raise very high effortless. I think you captured here that occurrence.
The question about bumping is the same as I can ask how people walk in the streets without bumping into one another... :o))
Best regards,
Andrzej

pady (4800) 2006-12-19 16:36

Very nice decisive moment. You were lucky to see such a spectacle.
Great composition
cheers
pady

capthaddock (28640) 2006-12-20 16:47

Hi Vic - I've never seen so many storks at once, reminds me of the seagulls of Essaouira, I'm glad all the birds are entirely inm the frame, this would make a prettty desktop wallpaper choice.

jafadabret (38977) 2006-12-21 5:25

Hi Vic,
Quel beau spectacle que ces cigognes dans ce ciel si bleu. C'est une grande joie qu'apporte un tel cliché.
Jacques

Lusitana (0) 2006-12-21 7:43

Beautiful picture! These storks meet at the exact same place every year. The first time i saw them i was also very impressed... The sky was full and they flew from all directions. Too bad i didnt have a camera with me.

AmiBe (6042) 2006-12-21 15:57

Hi Vic,
excellent, very original picture.
I like the deep blue, excellent contrast.
It's really funny because they're flying in different directions.
rgs

krakowiak (4702) 2007-03-02 15:02

Why I didn't see this photo earlier ? This is one of the most original photos on TE :-) 39 Storks captured in a very original cmposition, especially for me because I've never seen more than 1 stork in the reality...
Good quality, and beautyful colours!

Cheers,
Pawel