A griffon vulture in flight

[Nikolay Staykov - shotlandetsa]

This is photo of a Griffon vulture in flight from the last weekend, 8:25 AM. Bulgaria, Madzharovo. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madzharovo)

These birds are so huge (up to 3 meters in full spreaded wings), that a 400mm lens fits this giant at 1/2 of the frame, given the 35 meters distance :eek:

Mark II N, Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 at 400mm. 1/1250sec, f/7.1, iso 200, -1 ev/do. Wimberley II head.

A 1024 pixel version of the photo >>> (http://www.all4mypics.com/albums/userpics/10001/bel_leshoiad-400-8089.jpg)

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Great image Nikolay,I Iove the wing position,colors,light,composition and details,congrats!!!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great find and wing position. It looks a bit oversharpened, especially the eye and there is a slight sharpening halo. I would also apply some noise reduction on the background.

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Nikolay,
Super wing position and BG. I really like the way the head stands out. I see you got the Sigma!!! How do you like it???
Welcome to the club!

[Chris van Rooyen]

Agree with the nits but still a great image - the larger version is better with more shadow detail showing and it does not look over-sharpened either. I like the posture very much, this species is so much like our Cape Vultures:)

[Freddy Franzella]

Great capture! I like that serious look he has like he is on a mission!

[Maxis Gamez]

Hello,

I like the composition and BG. I would remove the noise but that's about it.

Thanks for sharing!

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Niko, Love the wing position and the COMP. I am confused by this: "iso 200, -1 ev/do" Did you make this image at one stop less than the meter or one stop less than sunny 16? In either case, why???

I am trying to figure out where all the noise came from.

[Steve Canuel]

Nicely captured pose. This version does look a bit oversharpened in the head but the large version looks nicer.
Steve

[Nikolay Staykov - shotlandetsa]

Thanks to all of you for the comments :)

Roman, I will write you a note for the sigma 300-800 impressions, I've got a question too, but have to find some free time :(

Artie, it is hard to believe that the white neck of the bird stops burning out at -2/3. As I shoot in RAW only I decided to reinsure that nothing will burn out and that is why I put -1 because afterwards I can compensate in DPP software.

May by this is a mistake, please give me an advise for this?

The visible noise is probably because of the USM - 400/4/2, but I sometimes prefere to leave bits of noise in the image. In the bigger image i have removed it for comparison.

If anybody want to see more photos of the vultures' series please visit www.all4mypics.com or www.birds-view.com

[Jay Tan]

Awesome pose. I would denoise the BG as recommended by others.

[Blake Shadle]

Great wing position, and full of detail. I might like to see this with a little taken off the bottom. This is the griffin I was expecting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Opinicus.gif

[DanWalters]

Really like the action and the comp in this image. Very nice.