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My best side


My best side
Photo Information
Copyright: Niek Bouwen (SunToucher) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1248 W: 123 N: 1132] (5882)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-11-18
Categories: Nature
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Canon 400mm L 5.6
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Flamingos real or not! [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-11-28 14:27
Viewed: 569
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I had the opportunity to borrow a Canon 400mm L lens. So I decided to go to a zoo instead of sitting near a small lake waiting for the first bird to sit still. The photos I made were partially to test the lens as well as getting some animal shots for my portfolio.

I left rather early, so that I would get there shortly after the gates opened. The weather was still grey, which made it rather difficult to get good lighting. The zoo is located in a forrest. Anyway, using my monopod and leaning against walls helped me to get a stable base to shoot.

Some information from Wikipedia:

The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread species of the flamingo family. It is found in parts of Africa, southwest Asia (including Turkey), southern Asia (coastal regions of India) and southern Europe (including Spain, Portugal, and the Camargue region of France). Some populations are short distance migrants.

This is a large species, averaging 120-140cm tall, and is closely related to the Caribbean Flamingo and Chilean Flamingo, with which it is sometimes considered conspecific. This article follows the treatment in Ibis (2002) 144, 707-710.

Like all flamingos, this species lays a single chalky-white egg on a mud mound.

Most of the plumage is pinkish-white, but the wing coverts are red and the primary and secondary flight feathers are black.

The bill is pink with a restricted black tip, and the legs are entirely pink. The call is a goose-like honking.

Scientists have discovered that birds are dying in their thousands along the Rift Valley lakes of Kenya and Tanzania. However, they are baffled about the reason. Possible causes include avian cholera, botulism, metal pollution, pesticides or poisonous bacteria, say researchers. Also, fears for the future of the lesser flamingo — Phoeniconaias minor — have also been raised by plans to pipe water from one of their key breeding areas, the shores of Lake Natron. The lakes are crucial to the birds' breeding success because the flamingos feed off the blooms of cyanobacteria that thrive there.[1]

Most scientific attention has focused on the environmental changes to the lakes. Water levels have lowered and concentrations of soda in the water have increased. This increases the risk of toxic bacteria growing there.
SkyF, woody, shelbeesmom, Janice, GreenBaron, jjholle, hester, bettinamarie, meagan, captainsgirl, kokos101, evgenia has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Jan: Burgers' ZooSunToucher 3 11-30 05:21
To jjholle: StatiefSunToucher 1 11-28 15:49
To Fisher: BurningSunToucher 1 11-28 15:46
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Critiques [Translate]

HelloHiek,
Very successful framing.
I like the tone and colors.
Perfect low depth with this vague background or we distinguish the other individuals.
Stéphane

  • Great 
  • woody Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 193 W: 61 N: 141] (706)
  • [2006-11-28 14:35]

Hi Niek,
Very nice shot you have here. I love the expressions! Indeed the title is justified :)
Regards,
Varun

Superb quality and colour! Well composed.

~Hugs!~
mArtynas

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3157 W: 237 N: 7020] (28231)
  • [2006-11-28 14:54]

Very good capture Niek, especially with this lens. You have got in so close, and show up the colours and details quite well. Good job,
Janice

Hoi Niek,
Prachtig scherp portret van deze flamingo, met schitterende zachte kleuren. Haarscherp, te doen gebruikelijk, en mooi gepositioneerd. Het frame werkt perfect, kortom excellente inzendig. TFS.
Hans

Hello Niek,
This is a very nice version of those Pink Flamingos. It is very sharp with excellent natural lightning and exposure. I like the look she is giving you (I assumed she's a she ;) You caught great pose from the bird too. Well done with interesting note about this fragile specie and very nice BG. Thanks,
Claudine

Hi Niek.

Nicely captured and exposed. Beautiful colors.
If I may, some burning of the bright colors in the background will make your subject stand out, this will also keep the eye concentrated on the subject.
The workshop is just a QUICK example, but, abit of time you'll achieve what I'm trying to explain.
Excellent work

Mike

Schitterende foto Niek, vooral de scherpte is erg goed. Ik heb onlangs foto genomen voor de wielervereniging van een veldtoertocht. En met een een zoomlens is het erg moeilijke om scherpe foto's te maken bij weinig licht en bewegende voorwerpen. Ondanks dat ik een 'anti-shake' wat uitstekend werkt toch bewegingsonscherpte. Dus werken met een statief zal zeker een uitkomst bieden.

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1378 W: 31 N: 1576] (9677)
  • [2006-11-28 15:49]

Ah so we meet again Mr. Bouwen :)

Another lovely shot of your flamingo. This one doesn't look like it is contemplating life. It seems to be thinking "who is that over there and why is he staring at me". Nice eye contact and fabulous colours.

TFS

Karan

Beautiful in pink ...
A pretty bird and an excellent shot, Niek, I like the colours so much, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hello Niek,

I love the flamingo you have been shooting. Wonderful rich colors and well what can I say...the blurred background really gives a great dof. Wonderfully composed.

Take care,
Bettina Marie =0)

hi Niek... great shot! I lovehte colour, DOF, adnhte obrder suits it well. My only other comment..maybe more legs and less space above?/Just a personal preference, maybe..TFS Meagan

  •      
  • Tintin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2274 W: 280 N: 345] (1982)
  • [2006-11-28 19:57]

Nice capture, Niek, and the L lenses are just wonderful to give very sharp images. I might have liked a tighter composition or a bit less at the top but those are minor details. Interesting to see the other ones in the background all busy with their daily life. Well done!

Sorry, I am all out of green smiles!

Hi.

Stunning colours shown, so crisp a capture, welldone.

Stv

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1666 W: 136 N: 1263] (6138)
  • [2006-11-29 5:14]

Hi Niek,
what a gorgeous frame filling composition. Great POV and very nice BG. Very nice POV and the pastels looks wonderful.
TFS..Sky

Hello niek,

Glad to see you here on TL, Wonderful colors, bg, POV DOF perfect colors, excellent Pose it seem that he knows he getting photographed nice work,

TFS Kyle

The bird does appear to be posing for you..ha ha
great DOF and lovely color and detail in the photo...looking forward to seeing more photos taken at the zoo now!! :o)

TFS Donna:o)


Thanks for your comments on my photo "cloudy weather" :o)

Hello Niek,
A beautiful bird indeed!
However I think I can see a mean streak in his eye..?
Wonderful textures in the plumage do the trick here, and toppet by this fine colours!
Greetings,
Pablo -

hello niek!
beautiful portrait of this flamingos, excellent sharpness.
tfs
zoran

Hello, Niek,
Photos that concentrate on two or three main colours have a special appeal, in my opinion. Your photo makes no exception. I like the tender tones, the frane is also simple, but effective.
Regards, Evgenia

  • Great 
  • Jan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 384 W: 119 N: 610] (4027)
  • [2006-11-30 4:34]
  • [+]

Deze is erg mooi!!!
Ben je naar Burgers Bush geweest?? In dat geval heb je dezelfde dieren gefotografeerd als dat ik dat gedaan heb (zie mijn TL)

Mooi he, zo even in de Zoo....

Neat shot with excellent focus and DOF creating a nice blurry background. Beautiful colors.

Well done Hiek!

Réal

So beautiful! Nice shot Niek! Excellent tones and exposure time! Really a handsome bird there!
B-)
Linda

I REMEMBER NOW!! COOL PIC!

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