<< Previous Next >>

Flamingo Tricolor


Flamingo Tricolor
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2003-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1vHS, Canon EF 300mm f2.8 USM IS, Fuji Provia 100
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-03-16 8:38
Viewed: 5381
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
These Lesser flamingoes are displaying on the banks of Lake Nakuru (the pale ones in the foreground are immature and not taking part). I like the way there are three bands of colour in the shot, giving what is a natural shot an abstract feel.

This is a scanned slide.

LESSER FLAMINGO

The Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor) is a species in the flamingo family of birds which occurs in Africa (principally in the Great Rift Valley), across to Pakistan and northwest India.It is the smallest and most numerous flamingo, probably numbering up to two million individual birds. In Africa, where they are most numerous, the Lesser Flamingos breeds principally on the highly caustic Lake Natron in Northern Tanzania. Like all flamingos, they lay a single chalky white egg on mounds they build of mud. Most of the plumage is pinkish white.

Chicks join creches soon after hatching, sometimes numbering over a hundred thousand individuals. The creches are marshalled by a few adult birds who lead them by foot to fresh water, a journey that can reach over 20 miles.

The clearest difference between this species and Greater Flamingo, the only other Old World species, is the much more extensive black on the bill. Size is less helpful unless the species are together, since the sexes of each species also differ in height.

This species feeds primarily on Spirulina, a cyanobacteria which grows only in very alkaline lakes. Although blue-green in colour, the bacteria contains the phtotosynthetic pigments that gives the birds their pink colour. Their deep bill is specialised for filtering tiny food items.

LAKE NAKURU

Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes. It lies to the south of Nakuru, in central Kenya and is protected by a small Lake Nakuru National Park.

The lake's abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of flamingos that famously lines the shore.

Other birds also flourish in the area, as do warthogs, baboons and other large mammals. Black and White rhinos have also been introduced.

The lake's level dropped dramatically in the early 1990s but has since largely recovered.

Nakuru means "Dust or Dusty Place" in Maasai language. Lake Nakuru National Park, close to Nakuru town, was established in 1961. It started off small, only encompassing the famous lake and the surrounding mountainous vicinity. Now it has been extended to include a large part of the savannahs.
CeltickRanger, joey, bahadir, jaycee, eqshannon, boreocypriensis, Adanac, nglen, Necipp, lgfoto, soccer, goldyrs, Heaven, albert, gannu, NinaM, uleko, Luis52 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

I too love the gradation of color from pale to deep pink with pale blues on either side. I don't recall if flamingoes are noisy. If so, this must have been loud too. I can just imagine the constant movement, noise, smell as well as the color. What a sensory experience.

TFS
Evelynn : )

hello James

i love too the gradation of the colours from the water
to the pinked Flamingo's, excellent POV and panorama framing,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1739 W: 224 N: 6872] (24909)
  • [2008-03-16 9:52]

Wow that is cool! Three layers of colours: Grey, pale pink and deep pink :-)
I wonder why that has occured!
Very good "abstract" composition and a superb low-down POV.
Great detail.
Well done James!
Cheers,
Joe

Hello James,
What a plenty flamingos. Your capture is perfect. TFS. Regards,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2008-03-16 10:20]

Hi James,

The perfect title for this interesting Flamingo picture. The three bands of colors are amazing. The blue of the sky and the water add to the scene. I too can't help but wonder what this sounded and smelled like.

Jane

I frequently used Fuji slide film. It's natural blues and greens dominate over the reds...or at least my US version of that film did. I used slide film so I could work with it in Cibrachrome which is really no longer a viable option having sold out and not as easy to get nor use. The chemicals are horrendous things...almost non disposable...It made for superior prints though...If you ever get a chance you might try it out...if you haven't already...anyway back to the slide...an interesting effect..and it works:-) Very well I might add...it gives it a certain period flavour but I can't pick it out..I think I may have one similar to this buried deep!
Bob

Hello James,

A perfect and splendid shot of a beautiful colony of flamingos friend. Great compositon. TFS,
Cheers,
Bayram

Hello James
I agree with you about the abstract look...Its not often nature arranges itself artistically but these Flamingoes have and you have captured them perfectly with sharp focus from the front to the rear of the group.

I look forward to your call tommorrow.

Paul

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2008-03-16 11:51]

Hello James,
Thats alot of birds in one image, the colors are beautiful and the composition is great with the layers and splendid shades, thanks for sharing this image James.
Rick

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-03-16 12:50]

Hi James. Such a fantastic amount of birds all at the same time . a bird with beautiful colour and i like the way it holds its head on its long neck. i have only ever seen them in a Zoo when there was about 15 not a sight like this. a very good picture from a few years ago. TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2008-03-16 13:57]

Hola James,
sensacional captura,
bello momento y pov...
buenos detalles,
saludos.

Hi James,
wow.. perfect shot. Great colour and composition. Well done. tfs. Steve

Hello James a wonderfull shot great to see them in the natural surrounds good DOF and nice POV the gentle slope of the bank helped keep them in view. Good colour and contrast. TFS rgds Necip.

Hello James,
Awesome colouration with such a large group of flamingoes!
The shot is sharp with great details here
well done
cheers
Tony

James,

A lovely wide angle shot, showing the numerous Flamingoe and their habitat in detail. I like you POV, Comp and Clarity of the image.
TFS,
Sheriff

Jim!Bro how do you manage to get such shots!Awesome!I love the tricolour thing, very apt for this perfect shot!
Thanks & warm regards,
Goldy

Hi James!

The colour gradation makes this picture very special. I also like the effect created by the high number of necks erected to the sky. It's even somehow funny.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi James,
I like this composition with the layers in different colours
Nakuru is a magic place!
Well done
Albert

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 4 N: 3277] (14761)
  • [2008-03-17 9:07]

James, Superb superb and amazing. Lovely clarity and color. Great shot. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer [C: 773 W: 3 N: 1157] (4077)
  • [2008-03-17 16:43]

Flamingos are great subject but still, you have to know how to take a picture which you sure do. You've posted other pictures with layered colours but this one is a beauty. Even the flamingos at the foreground are tinted a little blue like the water. I like the graded colours, the movement of the birds and the frenzy we feel. thank you!

Francine

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2008-03-18 4:59]

Hello James,
I've only once seen a large gathering of Flamingoes (Greater) at the Laguna de Fuente Piedra in Spain, but not in such large numbers. This is a brilliant composition showing them en masse and in lovely colours. No doubt they were all on the move and very noisy too. Well done!
Many thanks, Ulla

Hi James,
Crowded shot are amazing, I find them very appealing especially when they are done right such as yours. TFS :)

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-03-19 21:05]

Hello James

A very impressive array of flamingoes.
I like the spectrum of pinks .
The focus is sharp with excellent detail.
Great POV.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2008-03-23 18:57]

Hola James.
Very nice and colorful photo. Exellent sharpness and well framed. I like it.
Saludos James.
Luis52.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF