Dynamic Pose from a Cape Vulture.

[Stu Bowie]

Visiting this location always produces different incoming poses from these wonderful birds, as they descend to feed. I quite liked the neck between the legs as this Vulture came in. Taken from a hide. BG naturally OOF as shot.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300mm F/2.8
1/2000
F/7.1
ISO 800

Hand held from inside the hide.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Stu - A very dynamic image with nice detail and wing position. Someone needs to tell him that he needs to bring his nose up and his landing gear down. Love the light too.

TFS,
Rachel

[Grace Scalzo]

Indeed a great pose. Love this big beauty as well as the background.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Stu, very cool and the head between the outstretched legs is a very nice touch.

My only thought (and this is purely a personal one) and that's the transition of sharpness of the subject juxtapose to the BKG, for me, it's too smooth, likewise the eye looks 'doctored' I thought it might be less prominent, perhaps knocked back a fraction???

TFS
Steve

[Lorant Voros]

Interesting pose indeed, Stu. Light wasn't the easiest here. It does look a bit that the eye had a special attention during the PP work. I'd lighten the dark part of the head a bit and maybe try a bit of rotation that the ground looks straighter....though the trees might look strange than. TFS.

[Stu Bowie]

the eye looks 'doctored' I thought it might be less prominent, perhaps knocked back a fraction???

Thanks Steve. Here is a close up of the eye. The only pp work I did was lighten the eye, and it seems whilst doing it, the catchlight has turned a blue colour. The only work I do if any, on eyes, is to lighten them if they requires it.

[Steve Kaluski]

The only pp work I did was lighten the eye,

I would turn that layer off Stu, Export and RP just as a comparison, I think by lightening it has highlighted it too much, but personal preference.

[William Dickson]

Lovely image Stu. Very dynamic as you said. The head between the talons is a great pose. Beautiful light and a lovely natural looking BG. Nice one.

Will

[Gabriela Plesea]

Wonderful capture, Stu:)

Hope we could join you on a shoot sometime?

Love the way the subjects stands out against the BG, well exposed and the colours are wonderful, the pose is so unusual :)

Great techs Sir, well processed and presented, beautiful detail

Warmest regards,

[christopher galeski]

Magic image Stu,love the pose,sharp with great detail nice BG,well done.

[Gerhard Weldhagen]

Great image Stu, the birds eye is clearly focused on something on the ground. I do hope he pulled his head up in time.... or was it a case of "gat oor kop" on the landing?

[Stu Bowie]

I do hope he pulled his head up in time.... or was it a case of "gat oor kop" on the landing?

Thanks Gerhard. Amazingly enough, whatever incoming pose these guys achieve, they always touch down perfectly.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Super shot Stu as always lovely details and a really interesting pose making for an unusual and eye catching presentation.

[Karl Egressy]

Nice image, interesting pose captured. The head including the beak and eye could go just a little brighter IMO.

[Andre Pretorius]

Hi Stu

Stunning image captured here! My first thought he wants to remove an imaginary collar!
Nice detail on bird, agree with Karl re bit more detail in beak.
My eye goes to his..
Would rotate bit to get straight line in BG.
What a moment captured well!

[gail bisson]

Really unusual and cool pose.
No one has mentioned this but I like the little farm in the BG. It really gives a sense of the environment that the vulture is in.
Do you have a bit more room on the LHS?
I really like this!
Gail

[Stu Bowie]

Do you have a bit more room on the LHS?

Thanks Gail. Yes I do have more room there.