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Who Needs Wings?!?
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Who Needs Wings?!?

by Ashley Vincent

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 13, 2011874 views35 comments
Canon EOS 7D, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM MK II + 1.4x Extender @ 170mm, Manual @ f/5.6 (1/3200 sec), 0 EV, ISO 400, Handheld, JPEG from RAW, About 60% of Full Frame + Added a Little Canvas to RH Side of Frame

Upon waking in the morning Verreaux's Sifaka sit for a while on their branches warming themselves in the first rays of sunlight stretching out their limbs in the process, which is of course is a practice any athlete will tell you is a must before exerting oneself physically, and for the hours ahead and the need for Sifakas to leap from tree to tree – often distances of 10 metres apart – to continue their foraging for food, they have to be as limber as possible to avoid injury.

Most of the pictures I'd seen of Verreaux's Sifaka before my visit to Madagascar last month showed them in various postures while skipping along the ground (something they do when the distance between trees is too far to leap), but I'd also seen one or two marvellous photos of them in flight, as it were, and I asked my guide about this behaviour and whether he knew of a place to take me where I could see them in action, preferably with just enough distance between trees and branches for me to capture a few frames with nothing but the subject in midair and sky in the background.

We set out the very next morning at 5 am so our trackers could find a family group in the spiny tree forest before they woke up, also allowing me time to find a place of my choosing where the sun would be rising behind me. Not only did I get the shots I'd been dreaming of but, as you can see from this frame, Mother Nature smiled on me yet again by painting the sky a perfect shade of blue and throwing in a few wisps of white cloud for good measure. When Mother Nature is kind to me, She's VERY kind :^)

Critique and comments always welcome.

Wishing you all a great weekend ahead :^)

Comments

35 comments
Comment posted by Tom Hilton on October 13, 2011 at 7:51 PM
Ashley,
That is a great capture... and a fun image!
Well done...
Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 13, 2011 at 8:20 PM
One of the most unique and well executed captures I've ever seen... Congrats on doing your homework, envisioning a shot and getting the right people and the right conditions to execute it, I think we all dream of something like this.

I wouldn't change a thing and the fact that you got light on the eye is awesome.
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on October 13, 2011 at 9:13 PM
Great image!!! A little planning when a long way. Really like the detail. Always good to have mother nature on your side.
thanks for sharing.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Graham on October 13, 2011 at 10:58 PM
Beautiful, Ashley. I like the action and pose, and you captured it perfectly.
Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments
Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on October 14, 2011 at 12:14 AM
Awesome photo Ashley! :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 14, 2011 at 12:29 AM
Wow, very cool photo. Love the sharpness and colors. Fine composition. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 14, 2011 at 12:36 AM
Very exceptional - envisioning and executing a perfect shot like this is awesome.
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Balan Vinod on October 14, 2011 at 2:06 AM
A cracker Ashley ..well done ..

Balan Vinod
Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments
Comment posted by David Sewell on October 14, 2011 at 6:55 AM
Superb, Ashley.

David
Registered on September 10, 2008, 63 Posts, 801 Comments
Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on October 14, 2011 at 8:49 AM
It's a WINNER all the way !!!
Jagdeep Rajput :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments
Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on October 14, 2011 at 12:04 PM
This is a terrific shot, Ashley- Perfect timing, great dinamic pose and fine detail- A real beauty, Fabio
Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments
Comment posted by Butch Lama on October 14, 2011 at 8:56 PM
All your hard work preparation paid off here... Outstanding shot :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on October 14, 2011 at 9:12 PM
Dreams do come true, Ashley! :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Hussain Nalwala on October 15, 2011 at 12:42 AM
Surely a great shot Ashley. Love it !!
Registered on April 18, 2011, 298 Posts, 339 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 15, 2011 at 1:30 AM
Your plan worked out beautifully Ashley :biggrin: Excellent flight shot with great body and wing position. Sweet Photo :toast:

Ken Archer
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on October 15, 2011 at 5:02 AM
:eek: :eek: What a striking image :eek: :eek:

Perfect in every aspect :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments
Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 15, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Incredible image Ashley! This is wonderful!

Ray
Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on October 15, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Shot of the trip (so far), IMO. :smile:

Max
Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Guy Runco on October 16, 2011 at 12:02 AM
I agree with Max, best shot of the trip so far. Great job!
Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments
Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 18, 2011 at 7:02 AM
Many thanks for you generous words and comments Tom, Luke, John, Rob, Vincent, Gary, Sandy, Balan, David, Jagdeep, Fabio, Butch, Ajit, Hussain, Ken, Anand, Ray, Max, and Guy :^)
Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments
Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 19, 2011 at 8:38 AM
Wonderful Ashley, congratulations on the EP!

Ray
Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments
Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on October 19, 2011 at 9:59 AM
Congrats for EP, Ashley, well deserved- Ciao Fabio
Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 19, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Congrats on the WP!
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by David E Lester on October 19, 2011 at 8:12 PM
Super..just super, love it!!!
Registered on March 24, 2010, 155 Posts, 793 Comments
Comment posted by David E Lester on October 19, 2011 at 8:12 PM
Super..just super, love it!!!
Registered on March 24, 2010, 155 Posts, 793 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 20, 2011 at 6:08 PM
Congrats Ashley :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 22, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Oh my, how'd I miss this?? :confused: :eek:
Superb shot Ashley! :toast: No words to add...you better enter this somewhere :wink:
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Deibert on October 22, 2011 at 9:13 PM
Great, great shot, Ashley! Amazingly executed...great light...great composition...extremely inspiring! A thousand cheers! Mark
Registered on September 30, 2011, 48 Posts, 125 Comments
Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 22, 2011 at 11:03 PM
Fantastic Ashley. Two weeks in a row. Great!
Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments
Comment posted by David Hemmings on October 23, 2011 at 9:22 AM
FANTASTIC :toast: :toast:
Registered on May 26, 2006, 178 Posts, 1680 Comments
Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 23, 2011 at 8:38 PM
Many thanks Vincent, Brad, Donna and Jim, for selecting another of my photos for WP!

And thank you Ray, Fabio, Sandy, David, Nate, Morkel, Mark, Angela, and David for your support and kind words :^)
Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on October 23, 2011 at 8:41 PM
A stunning photograph! Love the look of concentration and readiness for "landing." How graceful a pose in midair, it looks like fun, but I am sure is fraught with danger. How exciting for you to bring your mind's eye view to reality. Congratulations on the EP for this amazing image.
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Willison on October 28, 2011 at 11:19 AM
I've got to add to this long list of comments, Ashley. This is superb.
Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments
Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 30, 2011 at 4:41 AM
Thank you for your words of appreciation Catherine and Wayne :^)
Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 22, 2011 at 7:34 AM
Exciting image Ashley, well done!! :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments