Cape Vulture

[Chris van Rooyen]

Another image from Giant's Castle. This time it is a Cape Vulture, a southern African endemic, under great threat of accidental poisoning, power line electrocutions, food shortage and habitat destruction. These birds are a regular visitors at the vulture restaurant. Sometimes they land really close, allowing for some fantastic close-ups. The MK III did the job flawlessly.

Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Date/Time: 2008:05:07 095:32
Shutter speed: 1/2000 sec
Aperture: 7.1
Exposure mode: Av
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 400
Focal length: 500mm

[Doug Brown]

Another really nice effort on your part Chris! Excellent sharpness, and I love the way the vulture is so focused on whatever it's looking at. I like the tight crop too. I only wish that the talons were a little more visible against the body. Thanks for posting!

[Daniel Cadieux]

Wow this is cool! I really dig the feathers on the bird's left underwing (our right). Impressive sharpness throughout. Just a bit more room below for me though.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great details and pose and very cool to see the talons so well. I would also go for a slightly wider crop, especially at the bottom.

[Dave Phillips]

incredible detail often unseen, very sharp on the head...thanks for sharing

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

Good to hear the MKIII worked well :)
Excellent image. The details on the feathers are amazing.

Szimi

[Kobus Tollig]

Super shot Chris well done on this. Detail is amazing

[Hillebrand Breuker]

i have seen your other picture and this one is great too. no exception, but high standard work. makes we want to go to South Africa. Image with high imapct! no nits from me.

[Victor Soares]

Intensity is very well captured in this one Chris ! Really enjoy the blue around the eye and the detail in the feathers behind the neck. I like the framing as is ... great job !!

[Blake Shadle]

Awesome work, Chris! This image has "power" written all over it. I really like the composition and great work on the technicals.