Corelas Flocking - Gammon Ranges National Park

Looks like something out of a John Woo movie!!!!!!!

I just returned from my 3 week trip to India. Very refreshing to see this spectacular picture of flock of Coreals. Can we see such large flocks of birds in the future? I am afraid not!

 

In fact, I spent most of my time

during the trip for conservation of a bird habitat in Uppalapadu (in India) which is in immediate danger of getting destroyed by local villagers. Soon I will add a section on my website for the preservation of Upplapadu bird habitat. Those of you interested please check my site.

How many photos have I taken of Corelas, flying over my property?- I've lost count! The framing by the trees is unique. It couldn't have been staged any better! A picture to be proud of; just another example of 'kinetic' at work, in still- photography. Adelaide SA

Beautiful picture. It sort of reminds of a "Rhondo" type of composition from the 14th century. Especially cool in that you found that geometry and the birds cooperated!

 

What a treat!

This is a beautiful picture, but it is almost too good. Is this really a totally unmanipulated image?

I do not mean to offend but I know the question might. If you wish, you can blame it on my natural skepticism, lack of advanced photographic skills or unadulterated envy. Or it could be all three.

 

Dear Antonio, ajayan pp and Other Sceptics,

 

Australian Honour is at stake!

 

Attached is a (rough) JPEG scan containing the whole day's shoot, 8 frames leading up to the final (and only useable) 9th image.

 

1. Note for shutter speed freaks: the sharpness of the birds and the blur in the trees (detail insert) - referred to in my earlier comment on this pic. This was achieved by panning the camera and (finally!) focussing it accurately.

 

2. Note the development of the idea, focal length of lens, concept of shooting, first "out", then "up" through trees etc. maturing as the day wore on. This includes going "hand held" instead of "tripod mounted" so I could better rotate my body to frame the trees how I wanted them.

 

3. Note Mr. ajayan pp: clouds building-up through the day.

 

4. Note: the above planning, corelas flying slightly lower than before and SOME GOOD LUCK combine for the 9th frame.

 

5. As to composition, I wish the flock had been a little further to the left, but due to the trees it was difficult to tell which direction they were flying from. It was a "reaction" shot. If I had been faking this pic, I would have rearranged the birds' positions (and possibly cleaned up some of the more obscure ones in the branches area too) to make it perfect.

 

Hope this clears up the "manipulation" issue.

 

Unfortunately, I did not have a dream to "guide me" to this picture. If you want to, you can make a similar (or hopefully much better) picture. Just buy a four-wheel drive vehicle, drive 1500 kilometres west from your home in Sydney, turn right at the Arkaroola track, drive another 395 kilometres north (avoiding pot holes, mud wallows and cattle grids), change three flat tyres, pitch a tent for three days, try and concentrate in the heat while brushing away the flies and wait all day with a five pound camera in your hand for those pesky birds to just fly by. It's easy.

 

Oh, and don't forget to go "Click".

 

Thanks,

 

(TONY DUMMETT, the Photographer)

-"Foreman of the jury, what's the jury's verdict?"

 

-"Your honor, after considering the evidence provided, the jury finds Mr. Tony Dummet not guilty of image manipulation."

 

Thanks to Tony Dummet for an appropriate and eloquent response. Please keep on shooting such beautiful pictures.

 

I love it very much!

 

V

This is an incredible picture, once in a lifetime for many. The framing is astounding considering the opening in the canopy, the clouds and the birds in flight at the right moment. At 1/15 second shutter how did you get the birds so sharp, they must not have been moving very fast... I wouldn't mind having this in my stock library... good job!

I wish I were there at that moment!!!

Nature photography rarely does anything at all for me, especially when shot in color. It is so hard for a color image of the outdoors to rise above the cliches of scenic landscapes and postcard sensibilities.

 

But your image has captured such a special moment and has a great edgy feel to it because of the unique angle and composition. If a photo takes me someplace, then it works. Yours definitely does. I would absolutely hang a print on my wall.

A really good shot, the right place at the right time i suppose

 

For me the image makes me think of heat and flies, avoiding snakes and sunstroke. Its much too real for my liking.

 

Australian trees are a bugger to take. They are so spindly and lacking in shape. Panning across them is a gem of an idea to soften them.

 

As to the shape of the flock of birds, focus and timing - all I can say is 'You lucky bastard and would you like a beer?!'

 

But you gotta be there and you gotta wanna take the picture. Good onya mate!

 

 

John

That is such a wonderful picture. I was a little stumped on how you got it sharp at 1/15 sec. Then I read Pentax 6x7 and mid wide lens. Now there's a super combination! A really big flat camera and a super sharp mid wide lens. No wonder why it's sharp! Good thinking. I'm still stumped on how you got the exposure. Birds? Out of reach for the Pentax meter. Sky? Tree leaves?

I like it. I shot 3 rolls in central New Mexico

of Birds and Geese at Bosque Del Apache National

Wildlife Refuge. However this picture looks better

than any of mine due to excellent composition

and backlighting. The seemingly -2/3 under exposure could be an artefact of scan?1

Wow...a master-piece.

Simply Amazing!!

What struck me on this picture fisrt is the fact that almost all the birds have their wings deployed on the shot. You might have have been lucky on that one. Add to that a great exposure and composition and you get a fantastic photograph...

I wish I'd taken this.

I really don't see what all the fuss is about...

 

Granted, it's technically superb, and I can imagine how damned difficult it was to get the shot... but it doesn't mean a thing to me if the image leaves me cold. I'm not a huge nature photography fan, and that probably explains some of it, but even if I took this picture I don't think I would have taken the time to enlarge it. I'd think of it as a decent grab shot, but I'd pretty much leave it at that. I think the unnaturalness of the perspective really kind of makes it hard for me to connect to it. Looking at it on a wall would be very weird for me, since I'd feel strange looking straight ahead and being presented with a view of the sky. Maybe if I were more accustomed to stargazing this wouldn't be so disorientating. I also find the wide angle perspective to be distracting, as effect which is accentuated by the trees which enclose the viewer from all sides, which makes me feel a little claustrophobic.

 

And I'm a little bemused at the aggressive response to the only other dissenting opinion. Just because the man has seen better pictures doesn't mean that he has taken better pictures. When's the last time you've told a friend you didn't like a movie very much and they jumped down your throat asking to see a better one that you've made?

Beautiful shot. The fervent hope that I'll one day take a shot half as nice as this is one of the reasons I keep plugging away. Well done!

this is such a good picture

Its a great shot, colour,sharpness,depth of field,you got it all

I've only seen a few photographs that have dream like quality this photo has. Great image!

Fortunatly for the elves, their comments were right on the mark photographically otherwise they would have been severly castigated for yelling "Weetootla" unabashedly.

Great photo!