Everglades Ugly Duckling

[Fabs Forns]

Black Vultures are everpresent in the season at Anhinga Trail. They run around with your car rubber parts, like wipers and are constantly fighting each other in expert Kung Fu moves. Here's one that was still for a few minutes. The reflection in the eye in that of the boardwalk and the sky, not the "always present in the best image" membrane.

D3, 200-400/4
Wide open @ f/4s/s 1/200
ISO 1000

Comments appreciated

[Dario Marelli]

WOW! great image Fabs, with an incredible detail
cheers

[Axel Hildebrandt]

He almost looks pretty as presented. Your kung-fu description made me laugh. :) Maybe a bit NR on the BG?

[Fabs Forns]

He almost looks pretty as presented. Your kung-fu description made me laugh. :) Maybe a bit NR on the BG?

Hmmmm, Didn't even think about it, D3;s got me spoiled and Noise Ninja is not being used that much any more. Thanks!!!!

[Alfred Forns]

No ugly duckling form me !!!!! Glad you decided to go after the handsome bird They make great subjects !!! Only suggestion I have is to clone color to the UR corner Don't like light areas in any corner with a dark center !!! Big Congrats !!!

...... btw Axel .... what is noise :D:D :)

[Robert Amoruso]

What is with the vultures fascination with windshield wipers.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

...... btw Axel .... what is noise :D:D :)

Noise, hmm, let me think, maybe the background sounds when someone claims the noise-free D3 has slight noise at ISO 1000. :)

[Fabs Forns]

What is with the vultures fascination with windshield wipers.

Not only wipers, window and sun roof rubber too :(

Someone told me it's the odor, they seem to use some sort of fish oil or a substance that smells like it, in the manufacturing process. Go know....

[John Zimmerman]

Great portrait of a vulture. I understand that they are running a used rubber car parts operation out of state. Be careful of the ones flying with tires.

[Fabs Forns]

Be careful of the ones flying with tires.

ROFL :) :) :)

(Rolling over from laughter)

[Wheeler McDougal Jr.]

I don't find the noise to be a distraction. I just think it's a beautiful image!

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Nice portrait and great details at 1000 iso!!!!

[Caroline Darmo]

ISO 1000! Major camera envy here... And you managed to make even a vulture look pretty, wow!

[Thomas Block]

ISO 1000 – wow, unbelievable. Nice portrait with warm light and a beautiful eye. Not ugly :-) Sometimes they are very fondly.

All the best
Thomas

[Grady Weed]

I think what trips me most about your image is the sharp focus from tip of beak to the back of the head. I got one of these guys in the Glades while driving the Loop, about half way in on the right. It was a full body shot, perched on a broken branch. His head was turned to the left and I got a full back side shot, very detailed. You got more light than I did, my head is somewhat darker, and I love your cropped portrait shot here. I hope mine will stand up to yours. Thanks for sharing your wonderful image with us.

[Linda Robbins]

Lovely portrait Fabs. Pretty bg and you found a nice clean bird. They are great favorites of mine. Young ones gather in huge groups at Myakka State Park near Sarasota, and if you park in the wrong place you may find 100 perched on your car when you return......and you will definitely have no rubber gaskets left anywhere on your vehicle! I bring toys out for them.....a paper cup, a piece of rope, or a stretchy piece of rubber tubing....and they will take turns playing with them for an hour or more. Great fun to watch!

[Gayle Clement]

Wonderful detail in the blacks. You've met this creepy bird look quite beautiful.

[Raymond Barlow]

very cool shot Fabs!, I like the details in the head.