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A naughty bugger


A naughty bugger
Photo Information
Copyright: Japie Venter (japie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-10-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Sigma 170-500mm APO, Digital ISO 200, Skylight
Exposure: f/8, 1/200 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Southern Africa, Crows [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-11-06 14:20
Viewed: 5676
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another shot from the World of Birds. I found this shot challenging for the following reasons:

He is both black and white, the sun was harsh and crows hardly sit still.

More about the Pied Crow (Roberts: 548)

The Pied Crow is a large black and white bird, with a strong, powerful bill. Size 46-52 cm - this bird is a fair bit larger than a large pigeon, but not as big as a Guineafowl. Afrikaans: Witborskraai

The Pied Crow has a fairly deep, long and powerful bill. The bill, legs and feet are black and the eye is brown.

The Pied Crow has a fairly heavy build. Most of the plumage is dark glossy black. There is a broad white collar around the back of the neck, which meets the white breast.

This is a common species of most open habitats, including farmland, highveld, semi-desert and bushveld. It also frequents rubbish dumps in urban areas. It is usually seen in pairs or small groups. On the major national roads, they often patrol the highways in search of road-kills on which they scavenge. It feeds on the ground and walks purposefully or hops when moving. They are often seen sitting on telephone posts and other prominent structures.

The Pied Crow is an omnivore, eating mainly plant material such as seeds, fruit and roots, but also arthropods, frogs, reptiles, birds eggs, nestlings, small birds and carrion.

The call is a harsh, deep kraaah or "kroh". It also utters a snoring khrrr.

This species breeds mainly from September to October. The nest is a broad open bowl of twigs, which are untidily knitted together. Within the stick nest is a deep cup of wool, fine grass animal hair or other fine material. It is placed in the upper fork of a tree, on an electricity pylon or telephone pole.


The camera settings:

Program Setting: Aperture priority
Focal Length: 300mm
F Stop: F/8
Shutter Speed: 1/200
ISO: 200
Tripod: Yes
Flash: Yes
Reflective Panel: Yes
Cable release: No
PDP, willie, Robbrown, RAP, LordPotty, Signal-Womb, Luc, ellis49, gerhardt, AndyB, marhowie, Callie, red45, deud has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To PDP: How to get closejapie 2 11-07 09:17
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Critiques [Translate]

  •      
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-11-06 14:24]
  • [+]

Hi Japie, not long ago I wasn't keen on birds, since joining this site I like them more. One type of bird I've always had a lot of respect for are crows. I think they are great. So clever and brash. This is an excellent portrait, the dettails are superb. Well done. How close were you, and how do you get this close?

Points tomorrow.

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2004-11-06 14:51]

The plumage detail is excellent. The contrasty in colour is very good. Great detail. Good notes
Very well done

The pose japie is superb.the details in the black feather are amazing, but as you say the B&W is a real challange the left side in slight shadow the details are well intact the right side is over exposed , I am told by other that in digital you need to expose for the whites and then use PS to recover the details in the dark areas, aparrently it does not work the other way round as all the details are lost when things are over exposed in digital.
There is an alternitive crop as well as this fine one, of just above the start of the neck on the right side straight across. It is onlny an alternternitive to what is already a fine capture nice Japie.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-11-06 16:08]

Gran retrato Japie de esta imponente ave.
El colorido y el detalle de sus plumas es realmente maravilloso.
Su profunda mirada, aporta una sensacion muy particular a la imagen.
Leí sobre el uso de un pequeño espejo para llamar su atencion... excelente artilugio, por cierto.

Great picture Japie of this imposing bird.
Colorful and the detail of its pens is really wonderful.
Its deep glance, contributes a very particular sensation to the image.
I read on the use of a small mirror to call its attention... excellent gadget, by the way.

This is aq handsome looking bird,Japie,well captured.With its black bill,it reminds me of the English Raven.Splendid portrait.

Very nice head shot of this beautiful bird and good exposure. The plumage detail is very nice. well done.

WOW! Japie, you just keep getting better and better. I love the shiny plummage you captured. B&W shots I am still very scared to do. What Rob said is true, rather go one under than one over. One under can be adjusted easily in PP.

What was your focal lenght?

Very good Japie.
Details in the plumage is great.
Nice colours and good details.
Robert is right about the exposure.
I set -2/3 ev and use PS to recover the shadows.
Overexposure it's not good in digital.
Great note.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1366 W: 32 N: 1351] (3982)
  • [2004-11-07 3:14]

Very nice capture.
Excellent pose the bird is giving and great detail of the plumage.
Good title and great note!
well done.

Japie, Great shot with a lot of detail in the blacks. The whites on the bottom right seem a little overexposed but that doesn't hurt the shot. I think you captured the power and radiance of the head very well.
Greetings, Jan

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2004-11-07 5:43]

Great portrait Japie.
You have use lures of high technology to draw its attention.
Great closeup. Instructive note. TFS.

Japie, Another superb mugshot with excellent detail through-out the subject. Great POV including the black neck & contrasting white upper-chest feathers sooo nicely!! Very well done!!!

the eye is brilliant, Japie, both the eye and the way you caught it. The blacks are great, which means . . . whites a bit too hot. 2 things here, maybe. Rotate a bit CCW, to get the head more 90º, then crop off most od thhe white, including his nice V on the chest. I recon it would improve the image, but it is IMO only, because of the whites, as mentioned.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2004-11-07 12:44]

This photo is like country's emblem. Amazing level of details and sharpness.

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 438 W: 11 N: 534] (2540)
  • [2004-11-11 6:37]

Very expressive! Excellent portrait of this proud bird.

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