I believe the Magellanic penguins billing ritual was part of allopreening. This serves to reinforce bonds between penguins. Typically, ecstatic and allopreening behavior increase at dusk. People often ask me why I go back to the same locations year after year. My answer is simple, the more time I spend at a location with an individual species the greater the likelihood opportunities will present themselves. Having been to the Falklands six times now I concentrate on individual species at specific locations on each island visited. Time of day and tidal influence are a key factor in determining when and where I go on each island.
Documenting natural subject behavior in an artistic way is what wildlife photography is all about.
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, 500mm
Manual (Spot on white chest +2EV), 1/800 @ f/5.6, ISO 800
Post-production- 15in MBP, LR3, CS5, NIK
I absolutely love this capture, Chas, although I wish you had presented it in a larger version b/c it would be that much more powerful. The light, behavior and design are sublime here.
I agree with you on going back over and over. That's why it is believed we probably capture our best photos close to home at places we revisit so often and with species whose behavior we learn and can begin to anticipate.
I agree with you 100% on getting to know the places you visit for bird photography like the back of your hand. I love the behavior captured and the sweet light. And I like the tight framing. I would definitely like to see it 1024 pixels wide.