View allAll Photos Tagged Stoop
Cilla is half peregrine, quarter gyr and quarter saker falcon. She is quite possessive of her food and can be slightly more aggressive to the person luring her, hence her nickname “Cilla The Killer”. She is exceptionally fast and tactile, often flying into sunlight to blind the falconer swinging the lure.
A hybrid is a cross between different species. In captivity many species of falcon are hybridised to gain the characteristics of both species. A hybrid also exhibits 'hybrid vigour' which hopefully makes for a better hunting bird. Hybrids do occur in the wild but as they are not as perfect as pure species they usually do not survive and replicate themselves in the wild.
The peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over 320 km/h (200 mph) during its characteristic hunting stoop (high-speed dive), making it the fastest bird in the world, as well as the fastest member of the animal kingdom. According to a National Geographic TV program, the highest measured speed of a peregrine falcon is 389 km/h (242 mph).
The gyrfalcon is the largest of the falcon species. The abbreviation gyr is also used It breeds on Arctic coasts and tundra, and the islands of northern North America and the Eurosiberian region. It is mainly a resident there also, but some gyrfalcons disperse more widely after the breeding season, or in winter. Individual vagrancy can take birds for long distances. Its plumage varies with location, with birds being coloured from all-white to dark brown. These colour variations are called morphs. Like other falcons, it shows sexual dimorphism, with the female much larger than the male. For centuries, the gyrfalcon has been valued as a hunting bird. Typical prey includes the ptarmigan and waterfowl, which it may take in flight; it also takes fish and mammals.
The saker falcon is a large hierofalcon, larger than the lanner falcon and almost as large as gyrfalcon at 45–57 cm (18–22 in) length with a wingspan of 97–126 cm (38–50 in). Males weigh between 730–990 g (26–35 oz) and females 970–1,300 g (34–46 oz). It resembles a larger but browner gyrfalcon. It is larger and more heavily built than the related lanner falcon.
Saker falcons tend to have variable plumage. Males and females are similar, except in size, as are young birds, although these tend to be darker and more heavily streaked. The call is a sharp kiy-ee or a repeated kyak-kyak-kyak.
A nice looking green anole I found perched on the steps to the house.
Taken in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
Stoop: a small raised platform, approached by steps and sometimes having a roof and seats, at the entrance of a house; a small porch.
Chinatown stoop
Today I will be giving my student Mark the 3rd day of a #photo #tour in #Harlem. This shot was taken on our 1st day in #Chinatown. We've been having a great time!!! I still have a few spaces for November and December. For more information go to
www.shootnewyorkcity.com My Site | NYC Photo Tours | About Me | Twitter | Google+ | Tumblr | Foto Blur | Etsy | Facebook | Blurb | Pinterest |
Gum bichromate over cyanotype on Fabriano 300lb HP paper. Image is about 7in x 10.5in.
Having recurring "jaundice" troubles, but I decided to go with the warm, golden look...
Gum bichromate over cyanotype on Fabriano 300lb paper. Pigments are Ni Azo Yellow (PY150) and Quinacridone Rose (PV19). Image size is about 7in x 10.5in.
Most of the tribal people in the Omo Valley allow themselves to be photographed only as a means of making money and their sense of violation often shows in their facial expression. This Karo tribesman, however, whom I can't help but call Mr. Cool, loved being in front of the camera. He never stooped as low as to negotiate a "photo fee", knowing that he would be richly rewarded anyway.
A NOTICE TO (CANON) DSLR OWNERS:
As I draw my Ethiopia series to a close, I would like to offer a better explanation of the camera problems I previously alluded to, as it offers lessons for all of us. I bought a new Canon Eos 7D from a local camera store in preparation for my travels. I took several shots to familiarize myself with my new camera and was pleased with the outcome of these few photos.
However, once I started to use the camera more extensively in Ethiopia, problems began to emerge. Despite the extremely bright, cloudless midday light available in this near equatorial country, my camera always seemed to need much more light than seemed customary. I often had shoot at ISO 320, just to get a reasonable f stop/aperture combination and avoid the flash firing.
When I returned home and downloaded my photographs, most were modestly overexposed and some were totally washed out and could not be rescued with post processing. On a closer examination, it also became evident that the focus was often off, leaving parts of the image blurred when they clearly should have been within the field of focus.
I took the camera back to the store where I purchased it and they gave me the option of sending it back to Canon myself or having them do so. I chose the latter (a mistake, as it turns out), thinking this was part of the service I should get when buying locally. When I picked up the returned camera a few weeks later, I was offered little explanation as to what repairs or changes had been made. Since I had begun to lose my confidence in my photography, thinking that the problem was with me rather than the camera (a concept totally reinforced by the jerk of a salesman at the store), I felt I needed a thorough explanation of what had been wrong with the camera.
I therefore called Canon repair but was utterly shocked that they would not talk to me. They considered the camera store to be their customer (since it was they who had sent in the camera) and would not talk to me, even though I was the owner of the camera. I actually had to return to the store and ask the salesperson to make a phone call to Canon Service. We then had a three-way conversation over the counter with me telling the store's clerk what questions to ask the Canon representative. It was an absolutely absurd experience!
What I found out, however, was that the autofocus assembly needed a total overhaul and I have since heard of MANY more reports of the autofocus malfunctioning on the Canon 7D. Additionally, the metering, CMOS sensor, shutter, AE and focus were all out of adjustment in my camera. By now I was amazed that I had been able to take any photos worth keeping, somewhat restoring my photographic confidence.
Based on this experience, I would like to offer the following advice to purchasers of Canon (and other) DSLR cameras:
- you cannot check out a camera enough before taking a major journey. A camera may work well under one set of (light) conditions, but not under another.
- don't doubt yourself. If there are even subtle problems with your photos, it is likely the fault of the camera. Canon admits that only random checks for quality control are made as cameras roll off the production line. Chances are that your new camera was not checked for accuracy!
- if something is wrong with your new camera, send it in yourself for repair. CANON WILL NOT SPEAK WITH YOU otherwise. (I hear this is not the case with Nikon, who is rumored to have a much more user-friendly customer service).
- beware of a company's (i.e. Canon's) online reviews. I twice submitted a review that Canon rejected, despite my having carefully followed their submission guidelines.
In closing, I would like to say that I like my Canon cameras (an AE1 in the old days, later an Eos 20D and now the Eos 7D) and I absolutely love my Canon L series lenses. I am, however, deeply disappointed in Canon's customer service and hope I will never again require their services.
Negative Lab Pro v2.3.0 | Color Model: Noritsu | Pre-Sat: 4 | Tone Profile: Cinematic - Rich | WB: Kodak | LUT: Natural