Cape Griffon

[Dave Barnes]

Weighing in as much as 11kg, the Cape Griffon is Southern Africas heaviest vulture.
With a wing span of 2,5M they are the unrivaled champions of winged flight and can fly as high as 8000M above sea level and withstand temperatures as low as -57 degrees centigrade.

Canon 1D mk3
Canon 500 f4+1.4TC
ISO 400
f5.6
SS 1/1250
Exp bias +0.67

[Tony Whitehead]

Absolutely love these birds, Dave. Great Giants image. I really like the diagonals in the wings echoed in the BG. Light looks a little harsh but you have done well with it.

[Stu Bowie]

Dave, I really like the angle of approach in this, sharp, with excellent detail. Lovely colours in the BG too. Looks like you guys had fun there.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Thanks for the statistics and fun facts on this species. As mentioned, light looks a little harsh - you could tone down the lighter colours a bit as it seems a little bright. I also find it a bit tight at top for the far wing. Excellent incoming pose, and I like the BG.

[Dave Barnes]

Thanks Tony, Stu and Daniel for looking and for comments.
Daniel lighter colours toned down and canvas added. Is this better?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The repost looks better. I like the details and BG. You handled the harsh light well and I wish we could see the underside of the near wing better.

[thijs broekkamp]

Beatifull in-flight shot of this giant. The white parts are good under control. Nice colours and BG. The repost is indeed some better.

[Geurt Bloem]

The repost works better for me as well Dave. Sweet opportunity, well used.

[Juan Aragonés]

The repost looks much better with the additional added room but still very light for my taste. Very good action, sharpness and BG :-)

[Daniel Cadieux]

Dave, a definite improvement and on the right track...can still go a lighter IMO.

[Chris Kotze]

Excellent approach angle captured. Greta detail and OOF BG

[Steve Canuel]

Nice pose. Impressive and handsome looking bird. Repost looks good.

[Kobus Tollig]

Great shot DAve well done. Like it. Great comp and exposure

[Dave Barnes]

Thanks Guys, the comments and suggestions are appreciated.
Daniel now I am confused?
What I did was check the mid tone grey and then set the white point to 245,245,245 and the black point to 10,10,10.
The adult birds are pale in colour and mature birds may have an almost white back. The wind lifted the feathers showing the white down below the feathers. The older the birds the lighter the colour. Imature birds are more rufous. The eye colour changes from light brown in younger birds through orange to yellow in mature birds.
I think that the colours / tones are correct but I am still open to correction.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Hey Dave, I've never seen this species in real life therefore I take your word for it lightness-wise. Too me it just "felt" too light...perhaps because of the harsh light, and/or the high-contrast extremes of the subject with the lights occupying a large part of the image. Doesn't take away from the dynamite and high-impact incoming pose.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Very nice BG. Nice combination of pastel colors here. The light has been mentioned but you did really well.

[Dave Barnes]

Thanks daniel and Juan Carlos appreciated your time and comments.