Bearded Vulture Fight

[Mark Dumbleton]

These vultures, estimated at only 204 Pairs left in the Drakensburg region in South Africa. I feel very privelaged to have been able to photograph them and feel this is one of my favorite Avian images ever taken. Image captured at Giants Castle, South Africa. These birds normally only take to flight as the hot air rises from the earth, and was lucky this day to have overcast conditions to eliminate the harsh light of midday, when this photograph was taken.

1DMK3
500 f/4
ISO 1250
f/6.3
1/2000

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great interaction, details, light, setting and BG. Did you remove the food items or weren't there any in this situation?

[Mark Dumbleton]

Thanks for comment Axel. Yes I did remove some distracting bones etc. Felt the image didnt have that impact with the bones in the shot.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Thanks for the explanation, Mark! I opened the image in PS and took the midtones to 0.92 which looks better on my monitor. BTW, there are a few hotspots in the whites, probably due to jpg conversion.

[Mark Dumbleton]

Looks much better Axel. Was that done with Levels?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Looks much better Axel. Was that done with Levels?

Yes, I opened Levels and took the midtone slider to 0.92.

[Mark Dumbleton]

Great, will adjust the master file. Appreciate the help!

[Chris van Rooyen]

Well done on a great interaction, not often that you get it this good! Agree on mid-tone boost

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

really a great image...I Iove the action,pose and the beautiful soft light!!!

[Ramon M. Casares]

Just stunning, great action and interaction, open bill is a big, BIG plus, great poses, BG, light and detail. Congratulations!

[Tony Whitehead]

Superb interaction - great to have an adult and juvi in the same frame.

[Juan Aragonés]

Superb action Mark :eek::eek:

[Mark Dumbleton]

Appreciate the comments folks!

[Kobus Tollig]

Super well done. Midtone boost helps. Great work

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Mark, just got back from Kruger. Didnt get anything like this. Great interaction captured here, and glad you didnt clip any wings. Love the show of their wings, and the open beak of the guy on the left.

[Rafael Rodriguez Mojica]

Wow, what a great shot. It looks like a painting to me and the subjects as if from a lost world.