All's Well That Ends Well

Critiques [Translate]

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• Reza_AS (178)
• [2007-01-11 7:46]
•  [Show CommentHide Comment]

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• sle2006 (603)
• [2007-01-11 7:56]

Incredible sharpness and color

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• claudine (0)
• [2007-01-11 7:58]
• [3] [+]

Hello Loot,
This is a very strong wakeup picture this morning. I'm having a coffee, slowly awaking when this bird just came out of my computer's screen! Ouf! He looks so alive! Details are just amazing and what to say about this great POV; magnificent!

To be honest, I'm not sure how I would react seeing this impressive bird in the wild. I'm not use to such big and strange looking bird... Beside raptors and Turkey Vulture, we don’t have this kind of bird in my country. They are mostly small and cute ones… I don’t know if I could approach it as, even if it can sound strange (with the kind of pictures I do), I am generally a little afraid of birds and it is this way since I was born… This is a great confidence I do to you this morning. It is OK because, like a great majority of people, I’m not afraid of snakes or spiders ;) And doing more and more bird’s pictures make this “phobia” less and less present. OK, now you know everything about my life, I’ll stop here ;)

Your story made me realized how people can be unconscious and disrespectful about their pairs of nature in general. This is a good thing that you didn’t come to a confrontation with this idiot ;)

Well done with excellent notes! Thanks,
Claudine

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• wkshelton (5492)
• [2007-01-11 7:58]
• [2]

Hello Loot,

This is tyruly an amazing photo, the colors are saturated well details are very crisp, nicly composed The POV of this portrait is reall spot on nicly done and

TFS Kyle

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• dew77 (13270)
• [2007-01-11 8:01]
• [2]

Hello Loot,
Magnificent portrait,proud expression on face is amazing.I liked blue sky at BG,lighting,razorsharp and crisp clear details,framing,composition and especially POV a lot.Excellent work,into my favr.Have a great day!
TFS..:-)

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• ellis49 (2254)
• [2007-01-11 8:42]
• [2] [+]

Hi Loot,
this is a great picture, the sharpness and exposure are spot on. I really like the POV and the composition.
warm and beautiful colours.
Great work, my friend.

Next week I will meet the doctor and his knife ;-)
I think I will be away even more than now after the meeting. :-(

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• JoseMiguel (5658)
• [2007-01-11 8:56]
• [2]

Hello Loot,
I always believe that the the things that are yours, sooner or later goes to you...as happen with this picture.
It's amazing the sharpness, clear and focus of this shot.
The colors you got, certainly reflects that the light was the right one, and you did use an extraodinary POV, with that blue sky like background, as well as the other technical aspects of the shot.
Congratulations for this post, for your effort to take it, and thanks a lot for share it with us,
JM

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• Aaltjie (0)
• [2007-01-11 8:57]
• [2] [+]

My friend

What have you done?

Remember I am an old man, and cannot take strain or such shocks.

You gave me goosebumps, shivers down my spine, tears in my eyes and high blood pressure. (The blood pressure was when I read your notes about this very inconsiderate guy, which spoiled your first attempt to photograph this beautiful creature.)

I am actually speechless.

You have outdone yourself. This photo is out of this world. Everything is perfect. Awesome! Spectacular! Breathtaking! More than beautiful! 100% Fascinating! It hypnotized me! I cannot stop looking.

Pardon me for saying this.

Everybody reading this:

Please go and do yourself a favour and look at this guy’s portfolio and see how it is supposed to be done. Let me tell you something. He knows how to educate and learn and teach through his very interesting notes and the way he give feedback to other people photographs.
I think he is a human bookshelf.

After all, is this not the reason why we all visit this website? To learn and be educated. At the age of 72 I am so grateful for each lesson in life I am able to learn.

GROOT MATERIAAL MIJN JONGEN! U KUNT ZEKER VAN ZICH TROTS ZIJN.

And when I am back in South Africa, I am going to write to the moderator of this site and ask him, if he cannot consider changing the icon of the comment on the pointing system. I have seen to many people receiving good feedback but loose points because the "Great" icon looks the same as the "Comment" icon. I am sure that it was just a slip of the finger, because the two buttons is so close to one another.

I am sure that Reza AS (first person to respond on this photo) did not intend do give a comment but unfortunately now 2 points are lost.

Anyway I think I have said enough.
I better run… I think I smell supper burning.

I’ll be back.
Aaltjie

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• horia (16656)
• [2007-01-11 9:04]
• [2] [+]

Hi Loot

A very good saying and an appropriate one in this case :)
But what if you couldn't go back to that place or if the hornbill would not have come itself to that place? What then...?
The problem you raised here is indeed a big one - people don't care for anybody around them and they act as if they were the "bellybutton of the Earth" (that's a saying from Romania :) ) It's a problem that sooner or later affects i think every photographer. And it's all part of lack of education. I was in the park last week trying to shoot something...anything, when a group of teenagers came between me and my subject (a woodpecker at that time) and started to laugh simply because i was trying to photograph a bird...Really...what's so hilarious in that...please tell me so i can have some fun, too.
Anyway, after a few seconds i asked them to move aside, which they did eventually, but, of course, the woodpecker was also long gone...

Anyway...to much talk about insignificant people. I don't know about you, but if i were in your place, and i have to say i'm hardly a violent man, i would have probably smacked him :)

Yet, your calmness was rewarded the next time you came to that place and you finally got your price :)
This is a stunning capture!
The details here are magnificently sharp, the colors are very beautiful and bright and the contrast between the hornbill and the perfect blue sky as a BG is impressive.
I really like the light here, too, both when it comes to it's direction as well as intensity.
A wonderful composition!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

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• swarg (373)
• [2007-01-11 9:30]
• [+]

This is a stunning portrait

I do agree, going to a game reserve is not neccesary when you live in the area we do with its abundant wild life.

Just yesterday I took a photo of a horn bill as it was perched on the top of a tree at the entrance to our road.

Once again, great shot

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• Bufo (4247)
• [2007-01-11 10:35]
• [2] [+]

Hello Loot,
you got this fellow very well framed in the end. I like the well exposed white feathers on the breast and amazing colours. Your story was very worth reading and excusez-le-mot kind of amusing. To be honest: I visited various african wildlife reserves and there was no place where I met so many rude people as in Kruger. European and American cheap bargain tourists coming to meet the big 5. Your story is very recognisable only in my occasion it was a small squirrel instead of a hornbill. Let's praise your patience here (and the taxi drivers'): 500 mm's just about heavy enough to....
Anyway, great picture, Jacob

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• badar (785)
• [2007-01-11 10:55]

Hi Loot,
You are the proud owner of a fab portrait.
Some people can be very irritating delibrately. I've had people come upto me while photographing to ask what i was doing & in doing that chasing away my subject.
This is a great shot.
TFS
Badruddin Ali

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• jaycee (25460)
• [2007-01-11 11:20]

Hi Loot,

That return trip was certainly worth while! Fantastic shot - great details. How big is the Hornbill - looks huge. Thank you so much for sharing this.

Jane

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• SkyF (8073)
• [2007-01-11 11:30]

Hi Loot,
wow what a perspective, it gives this bird such a regal look. Superply captured details with great sharpness. The colors and the crop are excellent.
TFS..Sky

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• Argus (50626)
• [2007-01-11 11:34]

Hello Loot,
Your story is also beautifully expressed by the look of angry indignation on the face of this hornbill.
This is a fantastic close capture with all the attributes of a good shot, including the blessing of a blue sky, very much lacking here in the north.
Thanks a lot and best wishes, Ivan

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• elefantino (14406)
• [2007-01-11 11:39]
• [2]

Hello Loot, I've been many time in the Kruger N.P. It's one of the place I love most (as well as Etosha in Namibia), but often met people like that. Most of the time they are italian (like me), they are only interesting in elephants and lions and don't appreciate (and propably see) all the other animals and birds.
If you know, in my gallery, I've pictures (taken in Africa) showing both mouses and elephants.
For me they have the same importance in their territory.

Sorry for my bad english, hope you understand.

Andrea
(the pic is great, but the message is stronger!!)

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• ramthakur (56953)
• [2007-01-11 11:56]

Hello Loot,
Your unpleasant encounter with the inebriated @#*!% notwithstanding, you have managed a stunning shot of this Yellow-billed Hornbill.
The subject looks very beautiful against the azure blue sky.
Warm regards,
Ram

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• RAP (7405)
• [2007-01-11 12:32]

Excelente nueva presentación Loot fundamentalmente por la gran definición captado y trasladada a esta versión "económica" de la imagen.
Es asombroso el nivel de detalles y texturas que se perciben a pesar de la intensa iluminación, muy bien controlada con un perfecto foco y gracias al punto de vista captado, el fondo ideal para realzar la silueta del ave.
Los colores son intensos pero sin una innecesaria saturación con apropiado encuadre teniendo en cuenta las dimensiones permitidas por TN.
Chapeau... gracias amigo mío.
Ricardo

New excellent presentation Loot fundamentally for the great captured clearness and transferred to this "economic" version of the image.
It is astonishing the level of details and textures that are perceived in spite of the intense illumination, very well controlled with a perfect focus and due to the captured point of view, the ideal bottom to enhance the silhouette of the bird.
The colors are intense but without an unnecessary saturation with appropriate framing keeping in mind the dimensions allowed by TN.
Chapeau... thank you my friend.
Ricardo

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• Dyker (170)
• [2007-01-11 13:46]

Hello Loot
Good golly this is nice. A first class photo of this lovely bird. Your patience paid you the dividends that you deserved. Great composition and very nice colors. You also had amazing focus and very nice contrast in the feathers and the sky is a wonderful background. Another good note in your typical story telling way. I'm not sure that I would have been able to restrain myself the way you apparently have done.
Greetings
AC

NB. What more surprises do you still going to show us from your Kruger trip?

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• pic (191)
• [2007-01-11 14:00]

Hello,

This portrait have a beautifull composition, it's very saturated colors.
Good job.
Christophe

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• metcher (4284)
• [2007-01-11 15:19]

Hi, Loot.
Nice hornbill portrait. They sometimes give to get close. Especially on camping places.
This is very nice against blue sky. Good sharpness, exposure and details. Well placed and looks great.

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• whjb (683)
• [2007-01-11 15:39]
• [+]

Hi Loot,

Beautiful portrait of this "flying banana", a nickname the game ranger in the park has for this bird.

Ons en ons geliefde taxis. Wees dankbaar jy bly nie Johannesburg nie. Hoop Telkom het hulle probleem uitgesorteer daar by jou.

TFS
Willem

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• wuta (2142)
• [2007-01-11 16:08]

Hello Loot , Het is weer een prachtige foto van deze hornbill ,mooie kleuren scherpte pose details en een mooie blauwe bg erg mooi ,Groeten Teunie .

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• Tamrock (1928)
• [2007-01-11 17:43]

what a great bird!
real sharp and well composed
beautiful!

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• jeanpaul (14962)
• [2007-01-11 19:00]

Bonjour Loot
Formidable prise de vue mon ami. Les couleurs sont magnifiques et les contrastes fabuleux. C'est vrai que ce n'est pas le plus bel oiseau mais il a son charme quand même.
Merci et au revoir....JP

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• coasties (28054)
• [2007-01-11 20:21]

Hi Loot

Awesome shot. Very good detail. The clear blue sky makes for a lovely BG. Love the composition too. TFS.

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• scottevers7 (12309)
• [2007-01-11 22:05]
• [2]

Hi Loot,

I think you nailed this one perfectly!!!! The colors and detail in this are absolutely superb. Stunning blue sky backround shows him so well. Every bit of intricate detail possible can be observed here. The low POV just makes that big bill look that much larger. STUNNING!

As for your patience with the inconsiderate jerk that messed up your photo shoot, you are to be commended. I on the other hand probably would have been slightly more confrontational. You are a better man for taking the high road. I deal with people like that on a regular basis with my job. Some people only understand after getting their @*&%$ kicked.
But I do it in a friendly way.
Take care my friend, your camera work is top shelf!!!!!!!!

Scott

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• manyee (23770)
• [2007-01-12 3:07]

Hey, I know this guy with the big yellow beak!
What a splendid portrait you have here, Loot.
I love his air of self-confidence, nay, almost arrogance!
Fantastic POV and focus and light. A real winner!
TFS. : )

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• nainnain (6259)
• [2007-01-12 5:10]

hello
super cette macro, vraiment du travail de professionnel
tres bonnes couleurs et excellents détails
merci a toi
edith

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• TAZ (10926)
• [2007-01-12 7:41]
• [+]

Hello Fikrer,
Wooooooow ! You made an amazing portrait for this strange bird ! Its eye and beak are impressive.
The "+++++" : subject, pose & expression, point of view, exposure, great sharpness, DOF, sky background, vivid colors, note of your adventure ;-)
The "-" : nothing...
Bravo my friend and thanks for sharing.

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• vanderschelden (30441)
• [2007-01-12 8:09]

Hi Loot,
A beautiful one indeed!
Everything is just great here!
Too crazy picture!
Well done
TFS
Annick
Sorry I enjoyed your story so much:-)

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• jmp (8415)
• [2007-01-12 17:04]

Hi Loot,
Very disagreeable history too much frequent in all kind of scenarios. I'd like that this bird would be a velociraptor starving of drunkard.
Excellent capture where you have managed not just every technical details, but also get a very appropriate face to the history.
Best regards, José M.

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• marhowie (486)
• [2007-01-12 18:01]

Hello Loot,
Very nice job on this closeup. Nice and sharp, excellent color, light, DOF, and details seen.
I think the blue sky makes for a great BG, and the low POV works famously :)
Have a great weekend!

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• pankajbajpai (16627)
• [2007-01-13 5:39]

hi loot,
what a lovely post,
excellent shot, well composed with effective pov,
well saturated colours,
sky makes a beautiful bg,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

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• peter_stoeckl (11530)
• [2007-01-13 9:39]
• [2]

Hello Loot,
this picture is just fabulous.
Eye catching. Iconic. Monumental.
Everything there: the perfect pose, the perfect light, the perfect background, not to talk about the perfect sharpness and depth. My congratulations!
Reading your story it seems that quite often we have to suffer first to get rewarded later on. What a piece of work is man, but some bonehead individuals of that noble species have to be expected everywhere, particularly close to our objects in the wrong moment. Such is life, but patience pays.
Excellent picture! Thank you, dear friend.
Best regards,
Peter

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• anahory (1377)
• [2007-01-13 11:04]

well Loot ,the same problem all over the world...sometimes people adn nature don´t mix very well!
but the portrait of this magnificent bird is great with colours and sharpness just perfect...never mind the toilletes!
best regards
pedro

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• dkaved (2114)
• [2007-01-13 11:05]

Hi Loot,
Wow, what an interesting looking chap.I enjoyed reading your note was glad to hear that your friendly and sensitive co-visiter didn't get the last laugh.It certainly was worth while coming back for another go as he is a lovley one.Great clarity and detail down to his worn and battered bill.Amazing to think that Kruger park is larger than the size of my country....must visit some day.
Regards, david

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• oscarromulus (42)
• [2007-01-13 11:19]

Loot,
Patience pays off; also you are persistant. Thanks for that. Otherwise we would not be seeing this beautifully great looking hornbill.
Like the way you curse:([email protected]%#!&*).
Am so very happy I've met you.
EXCELLENT WORK,
Mario.

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• mario-roberto (2627)
• [2007-01-13 14:39]

amazing shot. compo, expo, details. and other: fantastic sobject with an incredible expression.

why only two points?

compliments!!!

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• Juyona (16891)
• [2007-01-13 15:52]

Magnífico retrato y buenos detalles, nitidez y buen encuadre forman parte de este gran disparo, saludos

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• janhendrik (2392)
• [2007-01-13 18:36]
• [2]

Hi Loot,

Thanks for the kind and gracious critique on my last picture. I’m glad you liked it.

Hierdie is 'n uitstekende portret van 'n fantastiese subjek. Ek kan geen kritiek daarop lewer nie. Seker my geliefkoosde geveerde vriend. Jou nota is baie interessant. Ek kan net dink hoe my bloed sou gekook het as ek daardie [email protected]#$%^&* moes teekom wat jou dag so versuur het.

Well done and TFS.
Jan-Hendrik

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• blakitan (5517)
• [2007-01-13 19:38]

Hi Loot,
Superb details, great sharpness, crisp, and very nice blue sky for BG. Nice low angle shot. Beautiful natural colors.
Excellent shot.

Ben Lakitan

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• anel (40574)
• [2007-01-14 4:42]

Hi Loot,
More than excellent shot of this amazingly coloured Hornbrill. The perfect portrait. Life sometimes asks you patience, the reward is inversely proportional to it.:-)
Best regards
Anne

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• sAner (4750)
• [2007-01-14 6:08]

Hi there Loot. Amazingly sharp portrait of this very beautiful bird. I always think these Hornbills look very scary and a little bit aggressive. Anyway, the exposure is spot on and the composition is nice. I also like the low POV a lot. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

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• zeca (2887)
• [2007-01-14 20:09]

Wow Loot! What a nice capture! Excellent everything, but the highlight is really the wonderful bird. TFS!
Happy 2007 to you and your family!
Zeca

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• pauljk (226)
• [2007-01-15 2:33]

Hi Loot,
What a good read that note is. We aren't too exposed to the tourist crowd that you must deal with frequenting those game parks. Still we do get the occassional nob at some of my favourite shooting spots...usually mindless acts of vandalism though.
Still...the frustration must make this shot all the sweeter. Awesome shot Loot...I can't fault it. Perfect composition with the bird sitting on thirds. Perfect exposure...not a blow out to be seen on my monitor. Razor sharp...all of the bird in focus due to that F10 used. Clean as colour thats bang on white balanced.

BTW thanks for your continued enthusiastic critiques of my images. You always provide a thorough, well balanced view.

Cheers
Paul

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• clnaef (6814)
• [2007-01-15 2:54]

Bonjour,
Formidable regard et bec impressionnant.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

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• snowfalken (1788)
• [2007-01-15 10:23]
• [2]

Hello Loot,

This is impressive (both the photo and the note)! I've never seen a hornbill from such a short distance. You captured it very well, with great details and in a beautiful light. The composition is excellent and the beautiful blue sky makes a great background. The bird was showing you its profile as during a photo session. I love the way the light luminates every feature on the bird's face. It seems it was worth returning to the spot since you got rewarded with such a great photo. The black and white colors of the bird's plumage are very well enhanced by the blue color of the sky. Add the yellow bill and the red of the hornbill's face and you have a very beautiful color combination.
The picture is very sharp, so sharp I could count the bird's feathers. The small aperture made it sure that there is no sharpness fall-off on the subject. Exposure is also great and the shadows are soft preserving the details very well. This is one of the best bird portraits I've seen on TN and will therefore go straight to my favorites! Outstanding work! Thank you for sharing it with us.

With Friendly Regards,
Eddie

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• marmottelolo (14697)
• [2007-01-15 12:19]

bonjour loot
a voir le dernier poste,ce cliché en est le crop et je suis stupefait devant autant de details malgrés la distance.
c'est un portrait extraordinaire.
laurent

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• fserajian (222)
• [2007-01-15 15:50]

Hi Loot,

What a beautiful bird, lovely colours very sharp and well timed. TFS

Fara

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• mrcrow (3008)
• [2007-01-15 16:32]

whoa!!
in your face with that one...
smashing shot ...sharp and one of the real bird...
lighting was just right for modelling those feathers and getting an eye looking good
beak is fantastic
cheers
geof

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• radz (436)
• [2007-01-21 6:21]

Wow what a Magnificent portrait of this Hornbill!!!Details are awesome!!Lovely composition&good POV!!TFS!!!

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• Shoot_Score (2376)
• [2007-02-15 0:21]

Alles sal reg' kom, eh!

Well I DO so like that sentiment! One has to live by that
or one is a mere pessimist, 'n zeurpiet, nie?

You did well to follow the old boyscout motto:
"If at first..." More people should try that
and try to smile like your hornbill... ;)

Interesting PoV, imposing view. Tfs, J.

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• deffra (527)
• [2008-02-25 14:34]

Great details and with a beautiful sky...
Your photo are FANTASTIC.
Ciao francesco

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• FunkyMunky (3154)
• [2008-04-25 8:04]

Greta photo and nice angle. I always marvel at the sharpness of your photos, you must have the steadiest hands in the business! What do you use to steady your camera? Well done!

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• betsie (0)
• [2008-05-28 4:50]

Hierdie is 'n baie mooier voel as die gewone grys/charcoal Hornbill. Baie kleurvol! Jy was baie gelukkig om hierdie voel so te kan afneem, want hulle is mos maar skaam. Mooi Loot

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• Miss_Piggy (18714)
• [2009-11-05 0:15]

Hallo Loot
Like all your previous bird postings this is image is off high standard. Your camerawork is flawless and your work is precise and orderly. It is always a pleasure to look at your images as they testify of pride. I cannot give other comment than perfect photography as a whole. The colours in the entire image are really very special, especially the black and white in the bird's plumage, and the blue sky is magic. Ideal for these kind of images. I like the space left on the righthand side of the frame, highlighting the Hornbill's curved beak to its best. Thanks for sharing. Love
Anna

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• boreocypriensis (9571)
• [2010-02-20 8:35]

Hi MF Loot,

Great potrait and humorous facial expresion you caught here!
TFS this and also kind friendship!
Have a nice WE!
Cheers,

Bayram