Undertakers Row

A few Buzzards. Thought I had the 80-400 sorted out in terms of Auto Focus, but had to switch to Manual in mid stream. Went back for a second try with the 600, but as usual, they had left.

First one is a hoot

Thanks. Edwin!

This is probably in violation of a PN rule but this is only done in appreciation of Sandy's original.

 

If a violation has occurred or if Sandy objects to this post please delete this.

 

2 additional versions of the undertakers' row come to mind.

One in which the contrast and saturation (blood red..) are increased and then the image is cropped.

 

 

 

The other is converted to BW and contrast increased reminiscent (to me) of classic (cheesy?) 1950's BW western films.

 

only done in appreciation of Sandy's original.

Many thanks, Edwin, I enjoy both of your interpretations.

This photo is really based on the loss of 2 trees that were favorite photo spots. First was the Buzzard tree, which amusingly enough hung branches over a church. ( You may imagine I had great fun teasing the Minister about that). Any day at dusk, in warm weather they were there in large quantity the second just recently, was the eagle tree having been blown down. Have only had a single chance at an Eagle since the tree went down. These nice fellows were present only because of a very large roadkill porcupine. Imagine even they dine carefully on that meat.

With all due respect to the variations, I must say I prefer the original for its framing. In the variations, the vultures are the subject, but in the original, it's the vultures and their environment. Opinion only, of course, but I think the first shot gets it right.

Opinion only, of course, but I think the first shot gets it right.

Thanks, Matthew -- what Edwin was doing was venturing into the '50's Cowboy to Spaghetti Western Genre -- Clint Eastwood in Fist Full of Dollars. The Director would have loved the shot and probably set it up similarly.

A Fistful of Dollars - excellent choice, Sandy.

Jes' sayin'

 

Don't get me wrong. I like the modifications too. You can practically hear Morricone twanging in the background. But I think in the movie it would have started with that shot and then moved to include whatever they're waiting for.

Jes' sayin'

Local vernacular, Turkey Buzzard -- you're probably right.!:)

Hey, in ma native dialek, it wolda been buzzard too.;)

Jes' sayin'

 

:-)

UK "Buzzards" are "Hawks" in the USA. "Vulture" and "buzzard" are used interchangeably by most of the US population, to name vultures.

are used interchangeably by most of the US population

 

Yeah, as I said, but you lose points with the "birders".

It's like calling a bison, a buffalo, or a red-breasted thrush, a robin.

 

This is the insidious, creeping "nomenclatural correctness"

This is the insidious, creeping "nomenclatural correctness"

 

Surely you mean 'Scientific Accuracy' ?

'Scientific Accuracy'

 

Can you be serious in this time of "alternative facts"? (link)

 

As a scientist I say one thing. as a pore boy from Kanzas I say another

 

Edited September 18, 2017 by JDMvW

I think this is part of the problem with common or vernacular names. I have been scolded for referring to Laetiporus sulphureus as chicken-of-the-woods as opposed to chicken mushroom. Give me a break!

 

Not that there aren't arguments about the proper binomial name for an organism, or whether the yellow rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) is a unitary species or not, but those are different issues.

I keep flashing back in time "Tastes just like wild hickory nuts!" :D