Cape Vulture

[Stu Bowie]

This was captured from a glass hide at a Vulture Conservation Centre. These Vultures are completely wild and descend from the surrounding mountains to feed on carcasses left out for them to feed on. They then take the food back to their nests for the young. This centre also looks after injured Vultures that may have flown into power lines, and also has a breeding program. Some Vultures have tracking devices on them and have been monitored to have travelled to the Kruger Park and back, a round trip of 900 kms. The tracking is for research purposes to monitor their movements. I left the OOF Vulture in the image to show how they descend from the heights and glide in for the landing.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 100-400mm @ 400mm
1/2500
F/6.3
ISO 640

Hand Held

[Arthur Morris]

Sweet. And I love the second bird. Both subject placements perfect.

with love, a

[annmpacheco]

Wow, I would "duck" if I saw this incoming! Fabulous image and I'm glad you left the "straggler" in the frame. What magnificent wings, love their position here. I would wish for the gold eyes to pop a bit more. Such terrific details, habitat, and the swoop of the neck, is a pleasure to view.

[John Mack]

Works well with the out of focus bird in the background. Detail is nice the pancake flight pose works here.

[Steve Kaluski]

Very nice Stu, reminds me of planes coming into land on a carrier. Great colour palette, and detail, are they heading into the wind? Hope to see them soon. The splayed wing tips make it for me.

All the best
Steve

[gail bisson]

This is a rare case in which leaving the OOF bird (in this case the vulture) in the BG really adds to the image and tells a story.
Love that neck and wing span.
Really nice Stu!
Gail

[Glenn Conlan]

Agree with all the above comments with an emphasis on the great out of focus bird in the BG

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all for the feedback. Always appreciated.

[Mike Poole]

Having that second bird there is what makes this frame for me - really nice work Stu

Mike

[Isaac Grant]

This is a fun shot that I think is made by the second bird as well. Very cool behavior shot that screams Africa.

[Glenn Pure]

Brilliant shot Stu. Love the crooked neck and the incoming bird behind. Just like Steve, it reminded me of aircraft queued for landing. This is a case where the great clarity and detail on the bird prove a substantial part of the pop from the background. An effect I quite like as it keeps the surrounds and shows the bird in its environment nicely. Much less sterile than those completely blurred, featureless backgrounds that we all usually strive for (me included).

[David Salem]

I too don't normally like a second OOF bird in a frame but this one works so well!! Looks awesome. Like an air strip as they are lined up coming in. The colors and details look great and I love the low neck landing pose of this species. Very nice Stu.