I'll scratch your beak..

Gallery: AvianPosted July 13, 201077 views9 comments

,then you'll scratch mine...

Two crows allopreening.

The lighting was not the best with the sun being still high and behind the subject, which forced me to use fill flash to expose the birds correctly without blowing the sky and the whites on their back.

Pied Crows (Corvus albus)

Etosha, Namibia
Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Shutter Speed 1/250 Sec.
Aperture Value f/16.0
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF500mm f/4 L IS USM + 1.4x TC
Fill flash
Full Frame

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 13, 2010 at 3:18 PM

Wonderful exposure given the blacks and whites and I really like the interaction between the two.

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on July 13, 2010 at 3:56 PM

Vincent,
beautiful behavioural shot. I like the enjoyed expression of the second bird. Scratching is always nice.

Great work!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on July 13, 2010 at 4:39 PM

Vincent,

Wonderful interaction! I wonder how cropping some off the top and bottom and a little dodging on the right bird would work out. Just a thought on what otherwise is a real nice shot!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 13, 2010 at 5:54 PM

The behavior makes the shot for me Vincent. Exposure on the blacks and whites looks good and I'm glad you were able to "save" the background.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on July 13, 2010 at 8:05 PM

Vincent:
Terrific behavioral interaction shot and the BG is so very nice. Good use of fill flash. The whites that are in shadow have a slight blue cast that could be removed if you are so inclined.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on July 13, 2010 at 8:11 PM

Cool interaction shot, Vincent. The touch of flash helps a lot in this tough lighting situation.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on July 14, 2010 at 2:02 AM

Excellent behavior capture, and exceptional exposure. I wish my fill flash shots were so understated and subtle. And thanks for giving me the right word for the behavior. I photographed it in gulls recently didn't know what it was.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 14, 2010 at 11:44 AM

Very nice close up and interesting behavior (full frame) shot, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 15, 2010 at 4:02 PM

Vincent,

I love the intimate interaction you have captured in this image.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments