Rapt Attention

Gallery: AvianPosted September 23, 2011106 views12 comments

Canon EOS 7D, EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, Aperture Priority @ f/8 (1/1250 sec), -1/3 EV, ISO 400, Beanbag from Vehicle, JPEG from RAW, Cropped to About 40% of Full Frame

The Bateleur is one of Southern Africa's most distinctive raptors. It's given name is French and means “tightrope walker”, which lends a description to the way it tilts it's wingspan up and down as if to to give it balance while gliding through the air.

Came across this one in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Comments and critique always welcome.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Hussain Nalwala on September 23, 2011 at 2:35 AM

Pretty and very sharp....

Registered on April 18, 2011, 298 Posts, 339 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on September 23, 2011 at 7:40 AM

Very intense stare you caught! Nice color, I would like to have seen abit more detail in the shadow area, but you have to work with the light you get. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on September 23, 2011 at 7:51 AM

Yes, he's got my attention. Excellent shot Ashley, very well done.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on September 23, 2011 at 9:43 AM

Ashley a super bird ,your image of it is excellent.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 23, 2011 at 11:21 AM

Neat pose, Ashley. It really makes the eye pop.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 23, 2011 at 10:26 PM

Good job with the side lighting on this one Ashley. The blue sky really sets off the red in the bird. Never seen this species, but very scary looking!!!

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on September 23, 2011 at 10:45 PM

Perhaps my favorite African eagle species. I love the light on the face here.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on September 24, 2011 at 1:07 AM

Thank you for your kind words and comments Hussain, John, Ray, Keith, Dennis, Kurt, and Max :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on September 24, 2011 at 1:44 PM

Great look at this strange looking raptor, Ashley. Great perch and pose. I do wish for a bit less side lighting to bring out a bit of detail in the shadows but overall a really nice image. That stare you have captured is really great.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on September 26, 2011 at 12:44 PM

Very intense look from this raptor and one that I have never heard of before. I like the red/black color contrast and that is quite a display of feathers around the head. Another interesting and exotic bird, nice job in getting this, way to go.