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So, let's get one thing straight from the outset.
I LOVE CARRION CROW.
There, I've said it. Words I use to describe these amazing birds would include stunning, beautiful, bold, magnificent, intelligent and fantastic.
Right now I have a resident pair of Carrion crows who have decided that my garden is theirs, and are playing a game of cat and mouse with a pair of cheeky Magpies (Pica pica) for dominance and food rights. The male crow actually flies in and 'wings' the magpies to make them leave, an incredible sight to witness. It's an honour and a privilege to be able to win their trust and they have given me so much pleasure this year being able to get within a few feet of them, to photograph and feed them, and they have reinforced my already deep admiration for a bird that is brimming with beauty, intelligence, confidence and also surrounded by myths, legend and prejudice.
So let's begin with a look back over history.
LEGEND AND MYTHOLOGY
Crows appear in the Bible where Noah uses one to search for dry land and to check on the recession of the flood. Crows supposedly saved the prophet, Elijah, from famine and are an Inuit deity. Legend has it that England and its monarchy will end when there are no more crows in the Tower of London. And some believe that the crows went to the Tower attracted by the regular corpses following executions with written accounts of their presence at the executions of Anne Boleyn and Jane Gray.
In Welsh mythology, unfortunately Crows are seen as symbolic of evilness and black magic thanks to many references to witches transforming into crows or ravens and escaping. Indian legend tells of Kakabhusandi, a crow who sits on the branches of a wish-fulfilling tree called Kalpataru and a crow in Ramayana where Lord Rama blessed the crow with the power to foresee future events and communicate with the souls.
In Native American first nation legend the crow is sometimes considered to be something of a trickster, though they are also viewed positively by some tribes as messengers between this world and the next where they carry messages from the living to those deceased, and even carry healing medicines between both worlds. There is a belief that crows can foresee the future. The Klamath tribe in Oregon believe that when we die, we fly up to heaven as a crow. The Crow can also signify wisdom to some tribes who believe crows had the power to talk and were therefore considered to be one of the wisest of birds. Tribes with Crow Clans include the Chippewa (whose Crow Clan and its totem are called Aandeg), the Hopi (whose Crow Clan is called Angwusngyam or Ungwish-wungwa), the Menominee, the Caddo, the Tlingit, and the Pueblo tribes of New Mexico.
The crow features in the Ghost dance, popularized by Jerome Crow Dog, a Brulé Lakota sub-chief and warrior born at Horse Stealing Creek in Montana Territory in 1833, the crow symbolizing wisdom and the past, when the crow had became a guide and acted as a pathfinder during hunting. Ghost dancers wore crow and eagle feathers in their clothes and hair, and the fact that the Crow could talk placed it as one of the sages of the animal kingdom.
Historically the Vikings are the group who made so many references to the crow, and Ragnar Lodbrok used this species in his banner as well as appearances in many flags and coats of arms. Also, it had some kind of association with Odin, one of their main deities. Norse legend tells us that Odin is accompanied by two crows. Hugin, who symbolizes thought, and Munin, who represents a memory. These two crows informed the Lord of the Nordic gods of everything that went on in their kingdoms.
In Scandinavian legends, crows are a representative of the Goddess of Death, known as Valkyrie (from old Norse 'Valkyrja'), one of the group of maidens who served the Norse deity Odin, visiting battlefields and sending him the souls of the slain worthy of a place in Valhalla. Odin ( also called Wodan, Woden, or Wotan), preferred that heroes be killed in battle and that the most valiant of souls be taken to Valhöll, the hall of slain warriors. It is the crow that provides the Valkyries with important information on who should go. In Hindu ceremonies that are associated to ancestors, the crow has an important place in Vedic rituals. They are seen as messengers of death in Indian culture too.
In Germanic legend, Crows are seen as psychonomes, meaning the act of guiding spirits to their final destination, and that the feathers of a crow could cure a victim who had been cursed. And yet, a lone black crow could symbolize impending death, whilst a group symbolizes a lucky omen! Vikings also saw good omens in the crow and would leave offerings of meat as a token.
The crow also has sacred and prophetic meaning within the Celtic civilization, where it stood for flesh ripped off due to combat and Morrighan, the warrior goddess, often appears in Celtic mythology as a raven or crow, or else is found to be in the company of the birds. Crow is sacred to Lugdnum, the Celtic god of creation who gave his name to the city of Lug
In Greek mythology Apollo is supposedly responsible for the black feathers of the crow. Turning them forever black from their pristine white plumage as a punishment after they failed to watch Coronis, lover of Apollo, battles a Native Indian legend where the once rainbow coloured crows became forever black after shedding their colourful plumage over the other animals of the world.
In China the Crow is represented in art as a three legged bird on a solar disk, being a creature that helps the sun in its journey. In Japan there are myths of Crow Tengu who were priests who became vain, and turned into this spirit to serve as messengers until they learn the lesson of humility as well as a great Crow who takes part in Shinto creation stories.
In animal spirit guides there are general perceptions of what sightings of numbers of crows actually mean:
1 Crow Meaning: To carry a message from your near one who died recently.
2 Crows Meaning: Two crows sitting near your home signifies some good news is on your way.
3 Crows Meaning: An upcoming wedding in your family.
4 Crows Meaning: Symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
5 Crows Meaning: Diseases or pain.
6 Crows Meaning: A theft in your house!
7 Crows Meaning: Denotes travel or moving from your house.
8 Crows Meaning: Sorrowful events
Crows are generally seen as the symbolism when alive for doom bringing, misfortune and bad omens, and yet a dead crow symbolises potentially bringing good news and positive change to those who see it. This wonderful bird certainly gets a mixed bag of contradictory mythology and legend over the centuries and in modern days is often seen as a bit of a nuisance, attacking and killing the babies of other birds such as Starlings, Pigeons and House Sparrows as well as plucking the eyes out of lambs in the field, being loud and noisy and violently attacking poor victims in a 'crow court'....
There is even a classic horror film called 'THE CROW' released in 1994 by Miramax Films, directed by Alex Proyas and starring Brandon Lee in his final film appearance as Eric Draven, who is revived by a Crow tapping on his gravestone a year after he and his fiancée are murdered in Detroit by a street gang. The crow becomes his guide as he sets out to avenge the murders. The only son of martial arts expert Bruce Lee, Brandon lee suffered fatal injuries on the set of the film when the crew failed to remove the primer from a cartridge that hit Lee in the abdomen with the same force as a normal bullet. Lee died that day, March 31st 1993 aged 28.
The symbolism of the Crow resurrecting the dead star and accompanying him on his quest for revenge was powerful, and in some part based on the history of the carrion crow itself and the original film grossed more than $94 Million dollars with three subsequent sequels following.
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK
So let's move away from legend, mythology and stories passed down from our parents and grandparents and look at these amazing birds in isolation.
Carrion crow are passerines in the family Corvidae a group of Oscine passerine birds including Crows, Ravens, Rooks, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Treepies, Choughs and Nutcrackers. Technically they are classed as Corvids, and the largest of passerine birds. Carrion crows are medium to large in size with rictal bristles and a single moult per year (most passerines moult twice). Carrion crow was one of the many species originally described by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (Carl Von Linne after his ennoblement) in his 1758 and 1759 editions of 'SYSTEMA NATURAE', and it still bears its original name of Corvus corone, derived from the Latin of Corvus, meaning Raven and the Greek κορώνη (korōnē), meaning crow.
Carrion crow are of the Animalia kingdom Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus and Species: Corvus corone
Corvus corone can reach 45-47cm in length with a 93-104cm wingspan and weigh between 370-650g. They are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in the United Kingdom with a Green UK conservation status which means they are of least concern with more than 1,000,000 territories. Breeding occurs in April with fledging of the chicks taking around twenty nine days following an incubation period of around twenty days with 3 to 4 eggs being the average norm. They are abundant in the UK apart from Northwest Scotland and Ireland where the Hooded crow (Corvus cornix) was considered the same species until 2002. They have a lifespan of around four years, whilst Crow species can live to the age of Twenty years old, and the oldest known American crow in the wild was almost Thirty years old. The oldest documented captive crow died at age Fifty nine. They are smaller and have a shorter lifespan than the Raven, which again is used as a symbol in history to live life to the full and not waste a moment!
They are often mistaken for the Rook (Corvus frugilegus), a similar bird, though in the UK, the Rook is actually technically smaller than the Carrion crow averaging 44-46cm in length, 81-99cm wingspan and weighing up to 340g. Rooks have white beaks compared to the black beaks of Carrion crow. There are documented cases in the UK of singular and grouped Rooks attacking and killing Carrion crows in their territory. Rooks nest in colonies unlike Carrion crows. Carrion crows have only a few natural enemies including powerful raptors such as the northern goshawk, the peregrine falcon, the Eurasian eagle-owl and the golden eagle which will all readily hunt them.
Regarded as one of the most intelligent birds, indeed creatures on the planet, studies suggest that Corvids cognitive abilities can rival that of primates such as chimpanzees and gorillas and even provide clues to understanding human intelligence. A corvid's pallium is packed with more neurons than a great ape's.Corvids have demonstrated the ability touse a combination of mental tools such as imagination, and anticipation of future events. They can craft tools from twigs and branches to hook grubs from deep recesses, they can solve puzzles and intricate methods of gaining access to food set by humans., and have even bent pieces of wire into hooks to obtain food. They have been proven to have a higher cognative ability level than seven year old humans.
Pet crows develope a unique call for their owners, in effect actually naming them. They also know to sunbathe for a dose of vitamin D. In groups they warn of danger and communicate vocally. They store a cache of food for later if in abundance and are clever enough to move it if they feel it has been discovered. They leave markers for their cache. They have even learned to place walnuts under car tyres at traffic lights as a means of cracking them!
Crows regularly gather around a dead fellow corvid, almost like a funeral, and it is thought they somehow learn from each death. They can even remember human faces for decades.Crows group together to attack larger predators and even steal their food, and they have different dialects in different areas, with the ability to mimic the dialect of the alpha males when they enter their territory!
They have a twenty year life span, the oldest on record reaching the age of Fifty nine. Crows can leave gifts for those who feed them such as buttons or bright shiny objects as a thank you, and they even kiss and make up after an argument, having mated for life.
In mythology they are associated with good and bad luck, being the bringers of omens and even witchcraft and are generally reviled for their attacks on baby birds and small mammals. They have an attack method of to stunning smaller birds before consuming them, tearing violently at smaller, less aggressive birds, which is simply down to the fact that they are so highly intelligent, and also the top of the food chain. Their diet includes over a thousand different items: Dead animals (as their name suggests), invertebrates, grain, as well as stealing eggs and chicks from other birds' nests, worms, insects, fruit, seeds, kitchen scraps. They are highly adaptable when food sources grow scarce. I absolutely love them, they are magnificent, bold, beautiful and incredibly interesting to watch and though at times it is hard to witness attacks made by them, I cannot help but adore them for so many other and more important reasons.
Corvus Corone.... magnificently misunderstood by some!
Paul Williams June 4th 2021
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©All photographs on this site are copyright: ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams) 2011 – 2021 & GETTY IMAGES ®
No license is given nor granted in respect of the use of any copyrighted material on this site other than with the express written agreement of ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams). No image may be used as source material for paintings, drawings, sculptures, or any other art form without permission and/or compensation to ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams)
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.
I would like to say a huge and heartfelt 'THANK YOU' to GETTY IMAGES, and the 39.0091+ Million visitors to my FLICKR site.
***** Selected for sale in the GETTY IMAGES COLLECTION on June 3rd 2021
CREATIVE RF gty.im/1321080052 MOMENT ROYALTY FREE COLLECTION**
This photograph became my 5,024th frame to be selected for sale in the Getty Images collection and I am very grateful to them for this wonderful opportunity.
©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams)
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.
Photograph taken at an altitude of Fifty two metres at 12:57pm on a beautiful morning on Monday 31st May 2021, off Hythe Avenue and Chessington Avenue in Bexleyheath, Kent.
Here we see a large adult Carrion crow (Corvus corone) on a stone garden birdbath, a passerine bird of the family Corvidae and the genus Raven (Higher classification: Corvus), which is native to western Europe and eastern Asia.
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Nikon D850 Focal length 420mm Shutter speed: 1/640s Aperture f/7.1 iso200 Tripod mounted with Gimbal head. Image area FX (36 x 24) NEF RAW L (4128 x 2752). JPeg basic (14 bit uncompressed) AF-C Priority Selection: Release. Nikon Back button focusing enabled. AF-S Priority selection: Focus. 3D Tracking watch area: Normal 55 Tracking points Exposure mode: Manual exposure mode Metering mode: Matrix metering White balance on: Auto1 (4600k) Colour space: RGB Picture control: Neutral (Sharpening +2)
Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3DG OS HSM SPORTS. Lee SW150 MKI filter holder with MK2 light shield and custom made velcro fitting for the Sigma lens. Lee SW150 circular polariser glass filter.Lee SW150 Filters field pouch.Hoodman HEYENRG round eyepiece oversized eyecup.Manfrotto MT057C3-G Carbon fiber Geared tripod 3 sections. Neewer Carbon Fiber Gimble tripod head 10088736 with Arca Swiss standard quick release plate. Neewer 9996 Arca Swiss release plate P860 x2.Jessops Tripod bag. Mcoplus professional MB-D850 multi function battery grip 6960.Two Nikon EN-EL15a batteries (Priority to battery in Battery grip). Black Rapid Curve Breathe strap. My Memory 128GB Class 10 SDXC 80MB/s card. Lowepro Flipside 400 AW camera bag.
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LATITUDE: N 51d 28m 28.07s
LONGITUDE: E 0d 8m 10.54s
ALTITUDE: 52.0m
RAW (TIFF) FILE: 130.00MB NEF FILE: 90.5MB
PROCESSED (JPeg) FILE: 42.90MB
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PROCESSING POWER:
Nikon D850 Firmware versions C 1.10 (9/05/2019) LD Distortion Data 2.018 (18/02/20) LF 1.00
HP 110-352na Desktop PC with AMD Quad-Core A6-5200 APU 64Bit processor. Radeon HD8400 graphics. 8 GB DDR3 Memory with 1TB Data storage. 64-bit Windows 10. Verbatim USB 2.0 1TB desktop hard drive. WD My Passport Ultra 1tb USB3 Portable hard drive. Nikon ViewNX-1 64bit Version 1.4.1 (18/02/2020). Nikon Capture NX-D 64bit Version 1.6.2 (18/02/2020). Nikon Picture Control Utility 2 (Version 2.4.5 (18/02/2020). Nikon Transfer 2 Version 2.13.5. Adobe photoshop Elements 8 Version 8.0 64bit.
So, let's get one thing straight from the outset.
I LOVE CARRION CROW.
There, I've said it. Words I use to describe these amazing birds would include stunning, beautiful, bold, magnificent, intelligent and fantastic.
Right now I have a resident pair of Carrion crows who have decided that my garden is theirs, and are playing a game of cat and mouse with a pair of cheeky Magpies (Pica pica) for dominance and food rights. The male crow actually flies in and 'wings' the magpies to make them leave, an incredible sight to witness. It's an honour and a privilege to be able to win their trust and they have given me so much pleasure this year being able to get within a few feet of them, to photograph and feed them, and they have reinforced my already deep admiration for a bird that is brimming with beauty, intelligence, confidence and also surrounded by myths, legend and prejudice.
So let's begin with a look back over history.
LEGEND AND MYTHOLOGY
Crows appear in the Bible where Noah uses one to search for dry land and to check on the recession of the flood. Crows supposedly saved the prophet, Elijah, from famine and are an Inuit deity. Legend has it that England and its monarchy will end when there are no more crows in the Tower of London. And some believe that the crows went to the Tower attracted by the regular corpses following executions with written accounts of their presence at the executions of Anne Boleyn and Jane Gray.
In Welsh mythology, unfortunately Crows are seen as symbolic of evilness and black magic thanks to many references to witches transforming into crows or ravens and escaping. Indian legend tells of Kakabhusandi, a crow who sits on the branches of a wish-fulfilling tree called Kalpataru and a crow in Ramayana where Lord Rama blessed the crow with the power to foresee future events and communicate with the souls.
In Native American first nation legend the crow is sometimes considered to be something of a trickster, though they are also viewed positively by some tribes as messengers between this world and the next where they carry messages from the living to those deceased, and even carry healing medicines between both worlds. There is a belief that crows can foresee the future. The Klamath tribe in Oregon believe that when we die, we fly up to heaven as a crow. The Crow can also signify wisdom to some tribes who believe crows had the power to talk and were therefore considered to be one of the wisest of birds. Tribes with Crow Clans include the Chippewa (whose Crow Clan and its totem are called Aandeg), the Hopi (whose Crow Clan is called Angwusngyam or Ungwish-wungwa), the Menominee, the Caddo, the Tlingit, and the Pueblo tribes of New Mexico.
The crow features in the Ghost dance, popularized by Jerome Crow Dog, a Brulé Lakota sub-chief and warrior born at Horse Stealing Creek in Montana Territory in 1833, the crow symbolizing wisdom and the past, when the crow had became a guide and acted as a pathfinder during hunting. Ghost dancers wore crow and eagle feathers in their clothes and hair, and the fact that the Crow could talk placed it as one of the sages of the animal kingdom.
Historically the Vikings are the group who made so many references to the crow, and Ragnar Lodbrok used this species in his banner as well as appearances in many flags and coats of arms. Also, it had some kind of association with Odin, one of their main deities. Norse legend tells us that Odin is accompanied by two crows. Hugin, who symbolizes thought, and Munin, who represents a memory. These two crows informed the Lord of the Nordic gods of everything that went on in their kingdoms.
In Scandinavian legends, crows are a representative of the Goddess of Death, known as Valkyrie (from old Norse 'Valkyrja'), one of the group of maidens who served the Norse deity Odin, visiting battlefields and sending him the souls of the slain worthy of a place in Valhalla. Odin ( also called Wodan, Woden, or Wotan), preferred that heroes be killed in battle and that the most valiant of souls be taken to Valhöll, the hall of slain warriors. It is the crow that provides the Valkyries with important information on who should go. In Hindu ceremonies that are associated to ancestors, the crow has an important place in Vedic rituals. They are seen as messengers of death in Indian culture too.
In Germanic legend, Crows are seen as psychonomes, meaning the act of guiding spirits to their final destination, and that the feathers of a crow could cure a victim who had been cursed. And yet, a lone black crow could symbolize impending death, whilst a group symbolizes a lucky omen! Vikings also saw good omens in the crow and would leave offerings of meat as a token.
The crow also has sacred and prophetic meaning within the Celtic civilization, where it stood for flesh ripped off due to combat and Morrighan, the warrior goddess, often appears in Celtic mythology as a raven or crow, or else is found to be in the company of the birds. Crow is sacred to Lugdnum, the Celtic god of creation who gave his name to the city of Lug
In Greek mythology Apollo is supposedly responsible for the black feathers of the crow. Turning them forever black from their pristine white plumage as a punishment after they failed to watch Coronis, lover of Apollo, battles a Native Indian legend where the once rainbow coloured crows became forever black after shedding their colourful plumage over the other animals of the world.
In China the Crow is represented in art as a three legged bird on a solar disk, being a creature that helps the sun in its journey. In Japan there are myths of Crow Tengu who were priests who became vain, and turned into this spirit to serve as messengers until they learn the lesson of humility as well as a great Crow who takes part in Shinto creation stories.
In animal spirit guides there are general perceptions of what sightings of numbers of crows actually mean:
1 Crow Meaning: To carry a message from your near one who died recently.
2 Crows Meaning: Two crows sitting near your home signifies some good news is on your way.
3 Crows Meaning: An upcoming wedding in your family.
4 Crows Meaning: Symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
5 Crows Meaning: Diseases or pain.
6 Crows Meaning: A theft in your house!
7 Crows Meaning: Denotes travel or moving from your house.
8 Crows Meaning: Sorrowful events
Crows are generally seen as the symbolism when alive for doom bringing, misfortune and bad omens, and yet a dead crow symbolises potentially bringing good news and positive change to those who see it. This wonderful bird certainly gets a mixed bag of contradictory mythology and legend over the centuries and in modern days is often seen as a bit of a nuisance, attacking and killing the babies of other birds such as Starlings, Pigeons and House Sparrows as well as plucking the eyes out of lambs in the field, being loud and noisy and violently attacking poor victims in a 'crow court'....
There is even a classic horror film called 'THE CROW' released in 1994 by Miramax Films, directed by Alex Proyas and starring Brandon Lee in his final film appearance as Eric Draven, who is revived by a Crow tapping on his gravestone a year after he and his fiancée are murdered in Detroit by a street gang. The crow becomes his guide as he sets out to avenge the murders. The only son of martial arts expert Bruce Lee, Brandon lee suffered fatal injuries on the set of the film when the crew failed to remove the primer from a cartridge that hit Lee in the abdomen with the same force as a normal bullet. Lee died that day, March 31st 1993 aged 28.
The symbolism of the Crow resurrecting the dead star and accompanying him on his quest for revenge was powerful, and in some part based on the history of the carrion crow itself and the original film grossed more than $94 Million dollars with three subsequent sequels following.
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK
So let's move away from legend, mythology and stories passed down from our parents and grandparents and look at these amazing birds in isolation.
Carrion crow are passerines in the family Corvidae a group of Oscine passerine birds including Crows, Ravens, Rooks, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Treepies, Choughs and Nutcrackers. Technically they are classed as Corvids, and the largest of passerine birds. Carrion crows are medium to large in size with rictal bristles and a single moult per year (most passerines moult twice). Carrion crow was one of the many species originally described by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (Carl Von Linne after his ennoblement) in his 1758 and 1759 editions of 'SYSTEMA NATURAE', and it still bears its original name of Corvus corone, derived from the Latin of Corvus, meaning Raven and the Greek κορώνη (korōnē), meaning crow.
Carrion crow are of the Animalia kingdom Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus and Species: Corvus corone
Corvus corone can reach 45-47cm in length with a 93-104cm wingspan and weigh between 370-650g. They are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in the United Kingdom with a Green UK conservation status which means they are of least concern with more than 1,000,000 territories. Breeding occurs in April with fledging of the chicks taking around twenty nine days following an incubation period of around twenty days with 3 to 4 eggs being the average norm. They are abundant in the UK apart from Northwest Scotland and Ireland where the Hooded crow (Corvus cornix) was considered the same species until 2002. They have a lifespan of around four years, whilst Crow species can live to the age of Twenty years old, and the oldest known American crow in the wild was almost Thirty years old. The oldest documented captive crow died at age Fifty nine. They are smaller and have a shorter lifespan than the Raven, which again is used as a symbol in history to live life to the full and not waste a moment!
They are often mistaken for the Rook (Corvus frugilegus), a similar bird, though in the UK, the Rook is actually technically smaller than the Carrion crow averaging 44-46cm in length, 81-99cm wingspan and weighing up to 340g. Rooks have white beaks compared to the black beaks of Carrion crow. There are documented cases in the UK of singular and grouped Rooks attacking and killing Carrion crows in their territory. Rooks nest in colonies unlike Carrion crows. Carrion crows have only a few natural enemies including powerful raptors such as the northern goshawk, the peregrine falcon, the Eurasian eagle-owl and the golden eagle which will all readily hunt them.
Regarded as one of the most intelligent birds, indeed creatures on the planet, studies suggest that Corvids cognitive abilities can rival that of primates such as chimpanzees and gorillas and even provide clues to understanding human intelligence. A corvid's pallium is packed with more neurons than a great ape's.Corvids have demonstrated the ability touse a combination of mental tools such as imagination, and anticipation of future events. They can craft tools from twigs and branches to hook grubs from deep recesses, they can solve puzzles and intricate methods of gaining access to food set by humans., and have even bent pieces of wire into hooks to obtain food. They have been proven to have a higher cognative ability level than seven year old humans.
Pet crows develope a unique call for their owners, in effect actually naming them. They also know to sunbathe for a dose of vitamin D. In groups they warn of danger and communicate vocally. They store a cache of food for later if in abundance and are clever enough to move it if they feel it has been discovered. They leave markers for their cache. They have even learned to place walnuts under car tyres at traffic lights as a means of cracking them!
Crows regularly gather around a dead fellow corvid, almost like a funeral, and it is thought they somehow learn from each death. They can even remember human faces for decades.Crows group together to attack larger predators and even steal their food, and they have different dialects in different areas, with the ability to mimic the dialect of the alpha males when they enter their territory!
They have a twenty year life span, the oldest on record reaching the age of Fifty nine. Crows can leave gifts for those who feed them such as buttons or bright shiny objects as a thank you, and they even kiss and make up after an argument, having mated for life.
In mythology they are associated with good and bad luck, being the bringers of omens and even witchcraft and are generally reviled for their attacks on baby birds and small mammals. They have an attack method of to stunning smaller birds before consuming them, tearing violently at smaller, less aggressive birds, which is simply down to the fact that they are so highly intelligent, and also the top of the food chain. Their diet includes over a thousand different items: Dead animals (as their name suggests), invertebrates, grain, as well as stealing eggs and chicks from other birds' nests, worms, insects, fruit, seeds, kitchen scraps. They are highly adaptable when food sources grow scarce. I absolutely love them, they are magnificent, bold, beautiful and incredibly interesting to watch and though at times it is hard to witness attacks made by them, I cannot help but adore them for so many other and more important reasons.
Corvus Corone.... magnificently misunderstood by some!
Paul Williams June 4th 2021
.
.
©All photographs on this site are copyright: ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams) 2011 – 2021 & GETTY IMAGES ®
No license is given nor granted in respect of the use of any copyrighted material on this site other than with the express written agreement of ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams). No image may be used as source material for paintings, drawings, sculptures, or any other art form without permission and/or compensation to ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams)
.
.
I would like to say a huge and heartfelt 'THANK YOU' to GETTY IMAGES, and the 39.000+ Million visitors to my FLICKR site.
***** Selected for sale in the GETTY IMAGES COLLECTION on June 4th 2021
CREATIVE RF gty.im/1321650170 MOMENT ROYALTY FREE COLLECTION**
This photograph became my 5,020th frame to be selected for sale in the Getty Images collection and I am very grateful to them for this wonderful opportunity.
©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams)
.
.
Photograph taken at an altitude of Fifty eight metres at 10:26am during a summer shower on Thursday 3rd June 2021, off Hythe Avenue and Chessington Avenue in Bexleyheath, Kent.
Here we see a large adult Male Carrion crow (Corvus corone) on a stone garden birdbath, a passerine bird of the family Corvidae and the genus Raven (Higher classification: Corvus), which is native to western Europe and eastern Asia. It can grow to twenty inches in length with a wingspan of up to thirty nine inches, and in the UK they are in the Green conservation list status with over one million breeding territories.
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Nikon D850 Focal length 160mm Shutter speed: 1/400s Aperture f/6.3 iso640 Hand held with Tamron VC Vibration control set to ON in position 1 Image area FX (36 x 24) NEF RAW Size L (8256 x 5504) 14 bit uncompressed file AF-C Priority Selection: Release. Nikon Back button focusing enabled. AF-S Priority selection: Focus. 3D Tracking watch area: Normal 55 Tracking points Exposure mode: Manual exposure mode Metering mode: Matrix metering White balance on: Auto1 (4600k) Colour space: RGB Picture control: Neutral (Sharpening +2)
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2. Nikon GP-1 GPS module. Lee SW150 MKII filter holder. Lee SW150 95mm screw in adapter ring. Lee SW150 circular polariser glass filter.Lee SW150 Filters field pouch. Hoodman HEYENRG round eyepiece oversized eyecup.Mcoplus professional MB-D850 multi function battery grip 6960.Two Nikon EN-EL15a batteries (Priority to battery in Battery grip). Black Rapid Curve Breathe strap. My Memory 128GB Class 10 SDXC 80MB/s card. Lowepro Flipside 400 AW camera bag.
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LATITUDE: N 51d 28m 28.44s
LONGITUDE: E 0d 8m 10.50s
ALTITUDE: 58.0m
RAW (TIFF) FILE: 130.00MB NEF FILE: 91.2MB
PROCESSED (JPeg) FILE: 42.90MB
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PROCESSING POWER:
Nikon D850 Firmware versions C 1.10 (9/05/2019) LD Distortion Data 2.018 (18/02/20) LF 1.00
HP 110-352na Desktop PC with AMD Quad-Core A6-5200 APU 64Bit processor. Radeon HD8400 graphics. 8 GB DDR3 Memory with 1TB Data storage. 64-bit Windows 10. Verbatim USB 2.0 1TB desktop hard drive. WD My Passport Ultra 1tb USB3 Portable hard drive. Nikon ViewNX-1 64bit Version 1.4.1 (18/02/2020). Nikon Capture NX-D 64bit Version 1.6.2 (18/02/2020). Nikon Picture Control Utility 2 (Version 2.4.5 (18/02/2020). Nikon Transfer 2 Version 2.13.5. Adobe photoshop Elements 8 Version 8.0 64bit.
Milano via Gonin - Scorcio Urbano
Gennaio 2025
Rolleiflex 2.8 C
Schneider-Kreuznach Xenotar 80mm f2.8 + filtro giallo -1,5
FomaPan 100
R09 Studio 1+31 x 10 min
Busto Arsizio 2019-12-31
Hasselblad SWC
Biogon 38mm f4,5 (21 mm equiv.)
Rollei SuperPan 200 @200 asa
Hydrofen 1+15 x 4 min
Busto Arsizio - Novembre 2020
Scorcio Urbano
Leica III G
Summaron 35 mm f3,5 LTM
Kentmere 100
Studional 1+30 x 9 min
Busto Arsizio - Ottobre 2020
Scorcio Urbano
Hasselblad 500 CM
Zeiss Distagon 60mm f3.5 C T*
Rollei SuperPan 200
Hydrofen 1+15 x 4 min
Busto Arsizio - Febbraio 2021
Scorcio Urbano
Hasselblad 500 CM
Zeiss Distangon 50 mm f4 CT*
Rollei SuperPan 200
Hydrofen 1+30 x 8 min
Milano City Life
2019-02-04
Olympus XA - F.Zuiko 35mm f2.8
Fomapan 100
Studional 1+31 x 10 min
Le altre in questo album: flic.kr/s/aHsmApmaV6
Milano 2018-01-02
Leica M2 + Canon 35 mm f2 LTM
Ilford FP4 125 @100
R09 One Shot 1+50 x 15 min
Rotazioni 30 sec + 10 sec ogni minuto
Busto Arsizio - Parco Alto Milanese
FujiFilm GA645W
Super EBC Fujinon 45mm f4
Kodak 400 trix (expired 2015) @320asa
Hydrofen 1+39 x 6 min
Delage Bequet 2 seater Grand Prix (1921 : 1926) Engine 11,762cc Twin SparkHispano Suiza V8 Aero engine of 180bhp
DELAGE SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623789136964...
The best thing at the Bicester scrambles is that you have no idea what you will see. This one in one of the garage - showrooms is an absolute gem.
Normally seen racing at VSCC speed events, the Delage Bequet started life as the chassis of what is believed to be one of the first of the 1923 Delage 2LCV Grand Prix cars, this sophisticated race car featured a 2 litre V12 engine and would have been raced with and without a supercharger. The 2LCV was not particularly successful and by 1926 would have been rendered obsolete for Grand Prix racing as the Formula opted for a reduced 1500cc displacement. This prompted Delage to sell the car and develope the altogether more successful 15 S8 for the 1926 and 1927 seasons.
Equipping an old race car with a fighter plane engine was nothing new in the 1920s, and this old warhorse was no exception, at the behest of privateer Maurice Bequet and his business partner Roland Coty the Delage Grand Prix chassis was mated to a Hispano Suiza V8 engine originally used in a Spad airoplane. Bequet was familiar with this engine having worked with them alongside Louis Bleriot in the Great War as an engineer at Spad. The engine was aquired as war surplus, in 1926
Bequet himself was a successful race driver as early as 1922 he had finished second in the Targa Florio in a Peugeot and had raced a 1914 Alda fitted with the same Hispano Suiza engine.
The Delages ladder frame, suspension and brakes were retained but the original V12 was exchanged for the V8 Hispano Suiza engines of almost six times the displacement, fed by a Zenith carburettor and twin spark ignition it produced 180bhp and a tree stump puling ammount of torque. The lightweight body was modified but the special weighed in at 875 kg compared with the original 690 kg. in 1926 it was entered in two Grand Prix, but was heavily handicapped but managed a close second at the Grand Prix de la Baule after being forced to start 4 laps behind. It was shown at the 1926 Paris Salon and subsequently used as a roadcar, and competed successfully in some minor events. Bequet and Coty finally sold the car in 1936 and it is now ne just three remaining 1923-1925 Delage Grand Prix cars to survive.
Diolch am 77,922,695 o olygfeydd anhygoel, mae pob un yn cael ei werthfawrogi'n fawr.
Thanks for 77,922,695 amazing views, every one is greatly appreciated.
Shot 06.10.2019 at Bicester Scramble, Bicester, Oxon. 143-1223
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Busto Arsizio - Scorcio Urbano
Aprile 2025
Hasselblad 500 C/M
Distagon 50 mm f4
Fomapan 200
Bellini Hydrofen 1+31 x 10 min
Castiglione Olona
Ottobre 2023
Hasselblad 500 CM
Zeiss Distagon 50 mm f4 CT*
Rollei SuperPan 200
Bellini Hydrofen 1+30 x 10 min
2020-01-12
Galliate - Nosate - Cascina Malpaga
FujiFilm GA645W
Super EBC Fujinon 45mm f4
Fomapan 200@160 asa
Studional 1+31 x 8min
Altre in questo album flic.kr/s/aHsmKFJ1Cj
Castellanza - Scorcio urbano
Giugno 2025
FujiFilm GA645W
Super EBC Fujinon 45mm f4
Kentemere 100
R09 Studio 1+30 x 9 min
Busto Arsizio - Febbraio 2021
Scorcio Urbano
Hasselblad 500 CM
Zeiss Distangon 50 mm f4 CT*
Rollei SuperPan 200
Hydrofen 1+30 x 8 min
Busto Arsizio - Dicembre 2020
Scorcio Urbano (test Rolleicord VB)
Rolleicord Vb
Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 75mm f3.5
Fomapan 100
Hydrofen 1+39 x 8 min
Busto Arsizio - Febbraio 2021
Scorcio Urbano
Hasselblad 500 CM
Zeiss Distangon 50 mm f4 CT*
Rollei SuperPan 200
Hydrofen 1+30 x 8 min
Milano 2019-09-14
Street
Hasselblad Super Wide C (1968)
Biogon 38mm f4.5
Fomapan 100
Hydrofen 1+39 x 8 min
Other shots in this album
Henderson, Nevada, USA
On a way to Utah, close to Vegas, a "cul de sac" on an undeveloped part of Henderson...
More picture are coming soon...
Press "L" to best view (specially with a Retina Display)
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Sur le route de Utah, proche de Las Vegas, une petit pause repas dans un cul de sac d'un quartier non dévelopé de Henderson.
D'avantage de photos en ligne très prochainement...
À regarder en mode plein écran avec la touche "L" (spécialement avec un écran Retina)
Castiglione Olona - Scorcio Urbano
Dicembre 2025
Hasselblad SWC
Zeiss Biogon 38mm f4,5 + yellow filter -1
Rollei SuperPan 200
Bellini Hydrophen 1+30 x 10 min
Milano - Gallaratese
Ottobre 2022
Leica CL
Leitz Summicron-c 40mm f2
Kentmere 100@100
R09 Studio 1+30 x 9 min
Busto Arsizio - Scorcio Urbano
Aprile 2025
Nikon FA
Nikkor 35mm f2 AI
Fomapan 100
Bellini Hydrofen 1+31 x 10 min
Atri
Agosto 2024
Rolleiflex 3.5E
Schneider-Kreuznach Xenotar 75mm f3.5 + yellow filter
Kentemere 100
R09 Studio 1+30 x 8 min
negative scanned::Kiev 88::Arsat 80mm f2.8mc::Fujifilm Neopan Acros 100 [ self - develope ] :: Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 :: Megan Avenue Kuala Lumpur ::
model : Farah
Legnano - scorcio urbano
Aprile 2023
Hasselblad 500 CM
Zeiss Planar 100 mm f3.5 CT*
Zeiss Distagon 50 mm f4 CT*
Kentmere 100
R09 Studio 1+30 x 9min
100 years of service. Making my annual pilgrimage to the Armed Forces Event.
I used this film to test a monobath call FF1 by The (Famous) Large & Small Format Photography Co.. The 1 litre bottle claims to process between 70-72 degrees, room temperature and the bottle will process 7 rolls of 35mm. With the shipping cost the cost per roll is $5.50 to develope.
Following the directions I felt that Svema 200 and this developer is a complete failure, the negatives were extremely thin and underdeveloped.
Camera: Minolta 600si AF 35-105 lens
Film: Svema 200
Processed in FF1 Monobath, 6 minutes at 72 degrees.
Image by: Leslie Lazenby,
Findlay, Oh. Armed Forces Day, 19 May 2018.
This is a jewel of the Arab Architecture in all over the world. Its structure is unique: all the other mosques develope in a vertical way, this in a horizontal one. In its interiors you can see a labyrinth of arches superimposed by two. Only two colors: red and white. There they are 856 columns. Its construction started on 784 by the Calyph Abd ar Rahaman. The first feeling is a sense of bewilderment: one can wander for a long time without knowing where to go, except to the God. For the building worked Arab, Christian and Jewish peoples together in peace. Dimension: 180X130 meters and has 19 naves from North to South. 19 great doors decorated by splendid bas-reliefs were the entrances to the Mosque. To day is the Cathedral of Cordoba.
Busto Arsizio - Scorcio urbano
Ottobre 2025
FujiFilm GA645W
Super EBC Fujinon 45mm f4
Kentemere 200
Bellini Euro HC 1+31 x 5,5 min
Busto Arsizio - Scorcio urbano
Marzo 2026
FujiFilm GA645W
Super EBC Fujinon 45mm f4
Kentmere 100
R09 Studio 1+30 x 9 min
Busto Arsizio
Marzo 2019
Minox 35 GT-E
MC Minoxar 35mm f2.8
Kentmere 100
Studional 1+31 x 9 min
Le restanti nel seguente album flic.kr/s/aHsmb4i4ZK
Busto Arsizio - Scorcio urbano
Maggio 2025
Rolleiflex 3,5F
Zeiss Planar 75mm f3,5 + yellow filter -1
Fomapan 200
R09 Studio 1+31 x 9 min
L'arribada al Castell Nou de Perafita.
Foto feta amb una Kodak Medalist I fabricada el 1944, durant la Segona Guerra Mundial. Rodet Ilford FP4+ 125, revelat amb HC110.
www.perafita.cat/el-municipi/turisme/157-llocs-dinteres/1...
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The early XX Century Perafita "new" castle has his own avenue. As derelicted as the castle.
Picture taken with a Kodak Medalist I camera, made in 1944 during WW2, and probably for the US Navy or Army. Ilford FP4+ 125 develope in HC110.
Crespi d'Adda 2020-01-02
Hasselblad SWC (1968)
Biogon 38mm f4.5
Rollei SuperPan 200@200 asa
Hydrofen 1+15 x 4 min
Altre immagini in questo album flic.kr/s/aHsmKtU24G
Triumph Herald 13/60 (1967-71) Engine 1296cc S4 OHV Engine 82,650 (including CKD export kits)
Registration Number RNR 889 F (Leicestershire)
TRIUMPH SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623847263736...
The Triumph Herald was first introduced by Standard triumph in 1959, as a small two door 948cc, car with a body designed the Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti, and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, estate and van models, with the latter marketed as the Triumph Courier.
Following a downturn in the fortunes of Standard triumph the company was taken over by Leyland Motors, releasing more funds to develope the Herald line up. The car was refreshed and relaunched in 1961 with a larger 1200cc unit a retitled the Triumph Herald 1200. An upmarket version, the Herald 12/50, was offered from 1963 to 1967. It featured a tuned engine with a claimed output of 51 bhp (38 kW) in place of the previous 39, along with a sliding (Webasto) vinyl-fabric sunroof and front disc brakes as standard. The 12/50, which was offered only as a 2-door saloon, was fitted with a fine-barred aluminium grille.
The power output of the 1200, which remained in production alongside the 12/50, was subsequently boosted to 48 bhp
The 13/60 was launched in October 1967 at the London motorshow The 13/60 was offered in saloon, convertible and estate-bodied versions. The sun-roof remained available for the saloon as an optional extra rather than a standard feature. The front end was restyled using a bonnet similar to the Triumph Vitesse's and the interior substantially revised though still featuring the wooden dashboard. Interior space was improved by recessing a rear armrest in each side panel. The engine was enlarged to 1296 cc, essentially the unit employed since 1965 in the Triumph 1300, fitted with a Stromberg CD150 carburettor, offering 61 bhp, the 1200 was sold alongside it until late 1970
Many thanks for a fantabulous
46,748,284 views
Shot Brooklands New Years Day Gathering, 01.01.2016 - Ref 111-418
Foto feta amb una Kodak Medalist I fabricada el 1944, durant la Segona Guerra Mundial. Rodet Ilford FP4+ 125, revelat amb HC110.
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Picture taken with a Kodak Medalist I camera, made in 1944 during WW2, and probably for the US Navy or Army. Ilford FP4+ 125 develope in HC110.
Located just in front of Akbari Gate of Lahore Fort, the old Shahi Begum Masjid is hidden within a cluster of residential houses and tyre shops.
The deteriorated masjid offers splendid geometrical (if not that much with floral) patterns that would develope into the grandeur seen in Masjid Wazir Khan.
Busto Arsizio - scorcio urbano
Giugno 2023
Leica M5
Leica Summicron-c 40mm f2
Leica Elmarit-m 28mm f2,8 ASPH
Kodak Eastman double-x 5222 250 asa@200 asa
R09 Studio 1+31 x 7 min