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Not a vegetarian


Not a vegetarian
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 100, Skylight
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Predaceous birds - Aves predadoras, Birds of Southern Africa [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-11-10 9:33
Viewed: 4523
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
African Fish Eagle (Roberts - 148)

A distinctive white chestnut-brown and black raptor. Size 63-73 cm - larger than a guineafowl. Afrikaans: Visarend

The African Fish Eagle has a white head, neck and upper breast. The 'shoulder' of the wing and the lower breast and belly are rich chestnut brown. The rest of the wings are black and the very short tail is white. In flight it appears to have a short tail, and broad, rounded wings. The white of the head and tail, contrasting with chestnut and black wings, is distinctive. There is a yellow patch of skin on the face which encircles the eye, and extends to the bill. The bill is short with a sharp, hooked tip to the upper mandible. It is yellow at the base, with a black tip. The legs are yellow, and the eye is brown. Young birds appear very mottled - greyish-brown, black and white, but are the same size and shape as adults and are usually found near water.

This large stocky, eagle is often seen perched in a tree close to water. It normally occurs singly or in pairs, and frequents areas close to dams, lakes, wetlands or estuaries. It may also be seen soaring high above the water, and the evocative call, often given in flight, is far-reaching and easily recognisable.

The call is a loud ringing Keeow- kow-kow-kow, descending in pitch towards the end.

Fish Eagles breed from March to September. The nest is a large pile of sticks, lined with grass, green leaves and reeds. It is usually placed in a large tree, but sometimes on a cliff ledge or low bush on a steep slope.

This guy was in deep shadow with very little light exposing him. I could have gone to an higher ISO, but I wanted to go for the highest quality possible and stuck to 100 ISO to achieve that.

The camera settings:

Program Setting Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 500mm
F Stop: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/60
ISO: 100
Tripod: Yes
Flash: Yes
Reflective Panel: No
Cable release: Yes
RAP, willie, ellis49, Midi, gerhardt, paco, red45, marhowie, PDP, extramundi, Luc, Bernard has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To paco: Use of flashjapie 1 11-12 05:11
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Critiques [Translate]

Japie, Een fraai portret van deze viseter. Beautiful portrait. Beautiful expression of the bird an nice detail in the whites.
Good shot.
Greetings, Jan

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-11-10 9:41]

Wow... el manejo de blancos siempre es difícil para todos nosotros querido amigo... pero en este caso lo has manejado muy correctamente.
Gran primer plano de esta maravillosa ave con agudeza y colorido acorde a la calidad e la imagen.
Perfecto DOF y gran nota... a pesar de todas tus ocupaciones, podemos disfrutar de ella.

Wow... the handling of whites always is difficult for all we dear friend... but in this case you have handled it very correctly.
Great close up of this wonderful bird with sharpness and colorful accordant to the quality and the image.
Perfect DOF and great note... in spite of all your occupations, we can enjoy her.

Great Japie.
Very good colours ,great details and nice composition.
You handle the whites very good.
Good note.
Great work.

So good Japie. This is exquisite. great capture of an illusive prey. My favourite bird. Your picture now also in my favourites. Brilliant Job. Good notes.

  • Great 
  • Midi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 146 W: 24 N: 183] (2418)
  • [2004-11-10 10:18]

Fantastic shot, full of light and details. Thanks.

very nice portrait excelent colours and details!mooi gedaan.

Pragtig Japie. As Callie say it's high on my wishlist. The whites handled exceptionally well. Great shot Japie. Love this one!

  • Great 
  • paco Silver Star Critiquer [C: 38 W: 2 N: 30] (160)
  • [2004-11-10 13:01]
  • [+]

Very good portrait of this African Fish Eagle Japie. Learned a lot about, reading your great and complete note. Thanks for it. This capture is excellent, with a perfect DOF. Just a question, i'm very interesting to know how come you use a flash with a 500mn lens? How far from the eagle were you? I must misanderstand something, though use of flash was only useful for macrophotography or close-up.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2004-11-10 14:48]

Clear and simple. Pure eagleness :-)

Japie, Excellent profile with the details of the white feathers coming through nicely. I like the shadowy mix of light that comes across its head/neck. The eagle always seem to have such a serious/stern expression. You've shown it superbly here! Well done!!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-11-10 15:12]

So he's not ready to pounce on a cabbage then? :-)

It's a brilliant shot Japie, no nits at all. I think it is great.

  • Great 
  • urban Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 71 W: 4 N: 79] (413)
  • [2004-11-10 15:34]

Incredible bird. I am amazed that you got such a good picture with that mix of black and white. Impressive.

Simply beautiful, this looks very natural, besides the excellent whites and background. Nothing to say about the subject with the wonderful info. Thanks Japie.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2004-11-12 8:23]

I like its glance. I think it is a great picture, Japie.
I like the shadows too.
And an interesting note.

Japie, Great shot & wonderful DOF. Very good note

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1101 W: 95 N: 2610] (7555)
  • [2004-11-26 14:16]

Ek moet net meld dat hierdie een van die beste visarende is wat el nog gesien het. Pragtig, Mug shot par excellance!

  • Great 
  • Hisam Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 18 W: 1 N: 22] (215)
  • [2005-01-30 14:55]

This is a beautiful picture of The African Fish Eagle

  • Great 
  • swarg Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 13 W: 3 N: 21] (373)
  • [2006-12-19 7:26]

Great shot, neatly cropped

TFS

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