Sunbathing Vulture+Repost

Gallery: AvianPosted April 1, 201182 views8 comments

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

This vulture was "sunbathing" in Cuba last February. Turkey vultures are very common in Cuba. These large birds maintain a lower body temperature at night and so, as shown in this image, in the morning they maximize the exposure of their body area to the warming sunlight.

All comments very welcome.

1D Mark IV, 400 mm f/5.6, 1.4x TC, hand held: ISO 1250, 1/1000 s, f/13, 0 EV, 7.8 MP after cropping, NR, exposure adjustment, sharpening.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 1, 2011 at 11:37 PM

I like the light bouncing off the extended wings in this one Steve. I do wish for a bit more of a head turn tough. I feel it is missing the connection a little between between the subject and the viewer.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 1, 2011 at 11:55 PM

classic vulture pose, and great light, Steve. I agree with Kurt that a little more head turn would be nice, but it is at least a good clean view of the eye.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on April 2, 2011 at 12:09 AM

I kind of like the over the shoulder view here. Also like the placement of the bird between the two OOF BG tree tops. Would've preferred that the perch not merge with the wing but not really a biggie for me.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 2, 2011 at 1:49 PM

Nice pose, Steve. Wonderful light.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 2, 2011 at 7:55 PM

I love the lighting on the bird and the detail in the wings here Steve, if the image can take it I might try cropping it a little bit more closely.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on April 2, 2011 at 8:53 PM

Thank you everyone. Very helpful. I can't do anything about the head turn now but I can crop a bit more as Nate suggested. So, here goes. As is so often the case with Nate's suggestions, I think that this one is a definite improvement.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 2, 2011 at 10:08 PM

Love it. Greatlight, wing spread and I also love the oof branches in the bg

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 3, 2011 at 6:02 AM

Nice one Steve - love the golden quality of the light. Prefer the crop.

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments