BREAK - NECK

[Arno Ellmer]

A Cape Vulture with landing gear at full stretch.Image captured at Giant's Castle ,two weeks ago.
Shot from a hide
Canon Mk IV
500mm
f/7.1
1/3200
ISO 800
EC +1/3

[dankearl]

The Vulture is terrific, great pose and super details.
I sort of wish the landing rock was sharp, but a minor nitpick on a great shot.

[gail bisson]

Wow! Love the pose and your angle shooting it.
IQ is awesome as is the light and BG.
I have to say that I thought the same thing as Dan. The rock is a bit distracting. I would clone it out or blur it even more,
Gail

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Arno, stunning details. loved the pose and parallel-to-the-sensor orientation. Outstretched neck is awesome. nothing you can do about the rock as you were in a hide.

[Morkel Erasmus]

cracking feather detail here Arno, and a dynamic pose
I never tire of images from this place, though I have yet to go there myself...

[Ofer Levy]

Bird looks fantastic! Agree about the rock.

[Dudley Watson]

Great pose and detail on the vulture Arno....A small crop on the rock may make it less prominent

[Arno Ellmer]

Wow! Love the pose and your angle shooting it.
IQ is awesome as is the light and BG.
I have to say that I thought the same thing as Dan. The rock is a bit distracting. I would clone it out or blur it even more,
Gail

Thank you all who have commented on the OOF rock. Normally these birds land on this rock ,so the bird is in the same focal plane.This one chose to land slightly closer and "inland".
Instead of cloning out the distracting rock I include here an image just prior to the posted one. What do you think ?

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Arno, great IQ in your OP, and with good DOF on the vulture. Lots of detail to look at, and against that typical GC BG. As he wasnt going to land on the rock concerned, trying a version without it completely wont harm the image. Your repost rocks.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I agree with the rock concern, and I'd try a version without it too. Great techs, and with a neck like that I like your title :-)

[jack williamson]

I like both shots, the IQ is excellent as is the landing pose and exposure. The oof rock and bush in the op give a sense of environment and high altitude.

Jack