Jackal Buzzard

[Chris van Rooyen]

This image was created at the Giant's Castle Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The buzzards (as buteo's are known here) regularly visit the vulture restaurant there, providing great opportunities of flight shots.

Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark II
Date/Time: 2006:06:14 10:38:44
Shutter speed: 1/2500 sec
Aperture: 8
Exposure mode: Av
Exposure compensation: -1/3
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 400
Lens: 500mm
Focal length: 700mm

[David Steele]

Chris this is a stunning image, perfect in every respect. Great shooting!

[Doug Brown]

Truly an awesome image!

[Sid Garige]

Excellent Image. Great details and wonderful background full wing spread made it all for me.

[Steve Wheeler]

Awsome image indeed! The light, details, BG and pose... Doesn't get a lot better!


Steve

[Del Cockroft]

Magnificent capture. No faults from me, just superb.

[Arthur Morris]

Breath-taking. You might have a go at lightening the iris (if it is not black or dark brown...) The background is not bad either. Was this a VERT ORIG?

later and love, artie

[Mike Tracy]

What a magnificent bird. I know we are frowned upon to say " great shot " but this is truly in that realm in my eyes.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Thanks guys:-). Artie I considered lighting the iris, but it is dark brown, so I left it natural. This is a crop from a horizontal.

[Arthur Morris]

What a magnificent bird. I know we are frowned upon to say " great shot " but this is truly in that realm in my eyes.

Hi Mike, Tell us what you like about it.

later and love, artie

[Isak Pretorius]

Excellent open-spread wings posture captured beautifully! The great BG not bad either!! 10/10

[Vincent Grafhorst]

This is an amazing photo Chris. The view of the top of the bird with the spread wings and tail and that head turned just right. And not to forget the lovely light! I have heard a lot about the vulture restaurant in the Drakensberg and I really would love to visit it some day.
Cheers

[Axel Hildebrandt]

This is excellent! Great pose, details and BG. If anything I would lighten the dark spot left of the eye.

[Keith Bauer]

Oh my. This made me stop and look for a long time. I really like the vertical crop from the horizontal. The wing position just screams vertical to me. This is really nice. Very sharp, great texture and a background that compliments the image.

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

I really like the wing position,light,colors and BG!

[Larry Daniel]

Excellent. If only there were a catch light in the eye........

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Outstanding image Chris !!! Love the action , flight pose and the fanned tail. Everything about this is gorgeous . Love it.

[Dean Ingwersen]

Oh my goodness, that is superb. Great BG, good head position and light, and an incredible wing spread. Great work again.

[Mike Dale]

Very, very nice image. Stands out from the background beautifully. Well done.

[Jose Suro]

Quite the winner shot. Stunning image. Not a nit from me!

Best,

Jose

[Gary Dumer]

Crisp Detail Outstanding color on subject and Bg. Top view just a Wow Image!!!

[Raymond Barlow]

absolutely Killer image.

[paul leverington]

With the great lighting and top shot angle of such an incredable looking bird, and with that red tail your way over the top with this one. The best top shot I have ever seen.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Thanks everyone, comments appreciated as always:)

[Krijn Trimbos]

Amazing shot! Love the BG and the top view, an enhancement of the catchlight would put it over the top for me!

[Haim Ziv]

Bravo!!! great image!!!

[Melvin Grey]

Excellent photograph, super lighting - you can almost feel the texture of the feathers - dynamic pose and a fabulous complimentary background. What more can I say?

As for the catchlight comments - there are certain angles where you just will not get a catchlight - angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection! - You can hardly blame the photographer for that.