African Penquin - Juvie

[Stu Bowie]

I always visit Boulders Beach in Cape Town that has a very large Penquin colony. One is restricted on where to walk or photograph, so this was captured from a viewing platform. This youngster is going through the moulting stage, and in this, he is enjoying a huge stretch. We also extend our arms when we stretch. Taken in the afternoon.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300mm F2.8 +1.4 TC = 420mm
1/2000
F/8.0
ISO 500

Hand Held

[Steve Kaluski]

A fun pose Stu, with good control of both the Blacks & Whites. Well timed and a nice capture of this behavioural aspect. OK you may not have got the shadow of the feet & legs, but I wonder, if going lower may have offered a better perspective and were at eye level with the subject? Techs look good and great to see the MKIV delivering the goods.

TFS
Steve

[Stu Bowie]

OK you may not have got the shadow of the feet & legs, but I wonder, if going lower may have offered a better perspective


Steve

Thanks Steve. As stated in my intro, going lower was not possible as I was on a viewing platform. I has already lowered myself on the platform to reduce the angle.

[Steve Kaluski]

Missed that bit Stu, I was too engrossed in the image.

[Randy Stout]

Stu:
Love the funky pose! I might consider cropping a bit tighter if image quality would allow, but fun as posted. Just for my information, could you hazard a guess at the approx. age of this bird?

Cheers

Rany

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Stu ... nice one !!
Agree about the well controlled whites and blacks . A typical pose of many penguin species , when they are calling .. still looking very funny .
Color and comp about right !!!

Just not sure about being a `real `juvie , as the new feathers and the feet are looking like an older penguin , as does the beak !!! As far as i know from captive specimen of this species .

TFS Andreas

[Dorian Anderson]

Such a fun frame! It's about as good as you're going to do given the steep light and the platform restrictions. Details are lovely throughout, and I like the clubby feet and raised wings.

[John Mack]

Love the pose. Sometimes you just gotta strech out some. You handled the light very well. Nice detail all around.

[Stu Bowie]

Just for my information, could you hazard a guess at the approx. age of this bird?

Cheers

Rany

Thanks Randy - This fellow would be roughly a year and a half. He is in the moulting stage which would take 3 weeks, after which he will look like an adult.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a lot for the feedback everyone.

[gail bisson]

That pose brought a smile to my face!
Light was definitely up and you did as well as you could have.
I would also crop a bit tighter if possible.
TFS and nice to see you posting again!
Gail

[Daniel Cadieux]

Bummer you could not go to the ground, but understand the restrictions. The pose is so entertaining though, that this is not a big an issue as could have been. I do wish the far foot was not in the shadow, but nothing you could have dine here. Great job with the blacks and whites, and nice to see the face and the raised wings within dof.