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Ballet Dancer


Ballet Dancer
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: 2005-01-07
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Sigma 170-500mm APO, Digital ISO 100, Skylight
Exposure: f/8, 1/125 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Southern Africa, 50 - 60 points (chapter two) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-04-03 5:42
Viewed: 7433
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 66
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
With this image I am saying “Hi TN guys and gals” and that I have not forgotten about TN with all its wonderful members and images. In the last year I have been working on a major project for our company and the go-live is the 4th of April which is tomorrow. The workload of the last couple of months was such that I did not have the time to visit TN or even to take pictures.

This morning I found myself waiting for all the data to be transferred and for someone to ask fro assistance and decided to pay a visit to TN. What a surprise! I found an amazing amount of new members and the quality of the postings are incredible ( I will have to pull up my socks)

I will not be posting regularly for the next two months, but will try and visit at least once a week just to view all the great images that have been posted.

 This here is the African Purple Swamphen (Purple Gallinule) (Roberts: 223)

It is a medium sized dark blue waterbird with a heavy bill. Size 38-46 cm - a bit smaller than a Guineafowl and stands tall on longish legs. Afrikaans: Grootkoningriethaan

The bill is massive and short, being very deep at the base and is red. The red colour extends up onto the head as there is a patch of bare skin called the "shield" which is also red. The legs and toes are pinkish-red. He body is a dark metallic purplish blue, with olive-green on the wings and back. There is a patch of white plumage under the tail, which is made obvious by the birds habit of flicking the short tail upwards.

The Purple Swamphen is larger than either the Red-knobbed Coot or Common Moorhen

The Purple Swamphen is found in large reedbeds and marshes, and in smaller reedbeds around the edges of dams and pans.

It is often seen clambering amongst the reeds, or striding over muddy patches between the reeds.

The African Purple Swamphen eats roots, tubers, stems, flowers, grain, insects birds eggs and young and virtually anything else that is edible.

The calls are a range of loud explosive cackles, grunts and bubbling calls.

This species breeds in the summer months. The nest is a large bowl of rushes, reeds and grass, which is placed on a floating island or quite high up amongst dense waterside vegetation.

The camera settings:

Program Setting: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 500mm
F Stop: F/8
Shutter Speed: 1/125sec
ISO: 100
Tripod: No, Supported against the hide
Flash: Diffused Off Camera ETTL.
Reflective Panel: No
Cable release: No
White Balance: Sun
coasties, LordPotty, marhowie, TAZ, sAner, gerhardt, red45, manyee, carper, ellis49, Ina, Callie, PDP, Comandante, dew77, NitzanCK, scottevers7, Luc, deud, magiqa, bobcat08 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Japie

Welcome back you have been missed! Great shot of the Swamp Hen. Excellent reflection and tack sharp shot. Nice combination of colours. I like the out stretched wings. Looks like it was for balance or maybe its doing the Bird Dance.

Hallo Japie!
We missed you so much! What a wonderful photo you posted. Everything perfect- colours, subject and pose. Thank you!

Simply a great photo! but I know its not that simple to take though. Congratulations japie, nice to meet you.

Hi Japie...Good to see you again.
Of course you realise that this is the New Zealand Purple Swamp Hen (Pukeko),but we let the Aussies and Africaans think its theirs ;)
Actually,I do think there are some subtle differences,notably the beak and the colouration.
The Pukekos beak is much deeper (top to bottom).
They are splendid birds though,and quite photogenic.I've still got quite a few Pukeko pictures waiting to be posted.
Thanks for posting this one.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2005-04-03 8:18]

Bonjour Japie, un bon retour avec cette belle présentation. La pose de l'oiseau est très originale et l'éclairage est parfait.

Félicitations pour cette photo pleine de couleurs. J'aime beaucoup vos photos, j'attent la prochaine avec impatience

Japie, glad to see a posting from you. Welcome back.
Excelent shot. Well done on this capture and composition. Looks funny doing a tap dance move.

Mike

Great shot, and very funny pose.
Great colours and POV.
Well done.
TFS.

Excellent capture japie! It has vivid colors with very good sharpness and details..Superb pose here, Very well done!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-04-03 11:32]

Belle et intéressante composition pour ce magnifique oiseau danceur. Quelle musique écoute-t-il. Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2005-04-03 12:22]

Welcome back! When I entered TN, you were already 'gone' but I browsed through your amazing portfolio; your pictures are amongst the very best on TN. It's great to see you posting again. This picture is fantastic. Nice actionshot, superb colors and very good lightening. TFS!

It good to see you haven't lost your touch. :)

Amazing capture of this bird. Even nicer to see you drop in, even for a quick hello. Welcome back Japie. I wish that the deadlines and work pressure will give you a bit of time so we can enjoy your work again. I am sure it's not just me who missed your posts here on TN.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-04-03 13:00]

Hi Japie, good to see you again!
First post from long time but of course excellent! Perfect moment and subject, funny scene. Colours, details, reflection on the water - all at old, very high Japie's level of quality :-)

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2005-04-03 13:41]

Welcome back to TN, Japie. I am one of the newcomers you talked about. I have seen and admired many of your pictures. This is a fantastic capture of the purple gallinule. I see pictures of this bird in my bird books and have always dreamed of seeing one of them in real life. But you really caught this one in a wonderful pose. The colors, details, and composition are amazing. Thank you!

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1973 W: 119 N: 2582] (8439)
  • [2005-04-03 14:16]

He Japie is back,
Japie long time no seeing you, very nice to see you again.
Your photo is very nice the colours are great, and the details are lovely ion the pholto, wel composed, good job,
gr. Jaap

Great and funny shot Japie.
Welcome back, I have been missed you, my friend.
Very good colours, composition and details.
Great work.

I will not wait for months for next post ;-)

Let's dance.
Great Shot

  • Great 
  • Ina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 111 W: 6 N: 101] (767)
  • [2005-04-03 17:03]

Wow this is just soo great... The colors are fantastic and the way this bird stand on it's long red legs... ;-) Soo funny... Thank for sharing...Ina...

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-04-03 17:47]

Hi Japie, great to see you back on here, it's been so long! The pose is excellent and it's looks like it may be a little drunk! Excellent colours and details. The bird is striking, well done.

Wouaouw! The blue and the green! The attitude of the animal. The reflections in the water. Just perfect!

Great shot!
Perfect moment!
Wonderful composition!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2005-04-04 5:24]

Japie that's a marvellous shot!
Technically perfect. Thanks for sharing...

Nice shot Japie, great colours and Pov.
The sharpness is very good, and the Bg is superb.
The reflection adds a lot to the photo, beautiful bird.

Keep sharing, Japie.
Good work!

The reflections and vivid colors in this are stunning! He looks as if he's going to fall. Super action shot, and I LOVE the bright vivid colors. Wow!

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-04-04 11:09]

Gorgeous shot. The details, colours, light and composition are just brilliant. Excellent work.
Toni

HI vreemdeling.. Welkom terug.. ons het jou gemis.. hy lyk behoorlik of hy vir jou dans.. The colours are beautiful, love the blue and red of the beak..

TFS
Elize

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 751 W: 31 N: 20] (5100)
  • [2005-04-04 15:44]

Great photo. Very nice pose, colours and sharpness. Good capture. I like it. Well done.
Regards
Aleksander

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1101 W: 95 N: 2610] (7555)
  • [2005-04-04 15:50]

Hi Japie
Good to see you can take a breather, and what a dancer you got for us - from your vist with Gerhard, beautiful and it has a green cast, on MY face. what a balerina, Mooi man!!! Daar is hy nou 50!

Nice shot!
What a fantastic celebration of colour in nature - absolutely perfect. I like it very much.
Good work, congratulation.

Japie, Have missed your great photos. This is an excellent capture. Superb color and detail in what looks to be some strong light. A great pose..and great notes!

A stunning pose, superb capture. Looks like my daughter trying out 'some moves' as she calls them! Amazing colours, and reflection. Thank you for posting.

-sorry, pts later-

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-04-06 19:36]

Personal assessment of the photo: excellent. More painted than this one, impossible! ;-)
Great visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you very much, Japie, and I am really very glad that you took the time to post some new pictures. You did not lost your talents, fortunately. I hope to see your posts on a more regular base soon but I understand your duties. When you will be old as me... ;-)

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 438 W: 11 N: 534] (2540)
  • [2005-04-13 5:40]

waouw! what a shot! what a moment! great.

  • Great 
  • Pedda Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 41 W: 1 N: 247] (1287)
  • [2005-04-15 14:00]

Incredible colours and great composition. I really like the unusual pose that the bird has.

Hey Jappie welcome back. I (and we)have missed your talents, but your right, more and more new talent is joining every day.
I'm out of points today, but its an interesting shot. You've capture the colours quite well and the bird ballance is unusual. Well done and great to see you back. Try hard not to let work get the better of you, take care.

Beautiful bird and beautiful surrounding! Excellent photo.

Hi Japie,

Great action shot. Beautifull colours. I find the BG a litle bit to busy. Very good POV. The same bird meet I in New Zealand. They call here there: PUKEKO. Well done. TFS Bob

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