NikonGear'23
Images => Nature, Flora, Fauna & Landscapes => Topic started by: Mongo on February 28, 2016, 02:23:15
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Mongo had photographed daters many times. However, until Mongo photographed this particular series, he had simply assumed that daters were called that because of the dart-like shape of their beaks. He also assumed they caught their food (usually small fish) “in their beaks” instead of “with their beaks”. The difference will become more obvious further below below. Mongo was wrong on both counts.
One of the wonderful things about photographing wildlife (apart from the odd decent photo you might be lucky enough to get) , is what you can discover and learn by simple observation. Mongo has always believed and said that, “observation can be a very great teacher” (even if it sometimes also teaches you what NOT to do). This series proved to be a good example of that.
#1 image shows the darter newly surfaced from fishing underwater. A close look will tell you that the fish it is holding is actually “skewered” on its top beak and not held between its upper and lower beak as we might have thought.
Skewering your food is a great trick but how do you then un-skewer it (with no hands or other physically available objects to help you ?). Well, if you are a resourceful and knowledgeable darter you instantly think ……physics, of course !!
#2 shows the darter using the base of its long neck to act as the fulcrum. It then swings its long neck in a circular arch from water level into the air. Thus, at just the right speed, it creates the right amount of centrifugal force to dislodge the fish into the air and start to fall directly towards the darter’s mouth. The darter must be doing some calculations to do this well (albeit, subconsciously/automatically). It is no different to someone feeling the weight of a basketball and judging the distance to the hoop and working out (at the back of their mind) the force and direction deeded. A close look a the fish shows the hole where the beak used to be.
#3 shows the final reward of the above exercise as it manoeuvres the bulging fish down its slender throat.
#4 is just another normal aspect of its life. It too involves physics.
Mongo found observation of this elegant bird’s behaviour fascinating and enlightening. He hopes it may have been of interest to you.
D800E and AFS II 600 f4
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Good series that tells a story. I like your taste in color and processing.
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Mongo, everything to like. Great observations, narrative, photography and processing.
(Very definitely a large Kangaroo stamp from me. Thank you. ;D ;D ;D)
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Excellent series and narrative, Mongo. I can only imagine the patience involved in photographing and processing these images!
I love the background colours in #4.
Close to Sydney?
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Great series -- both images and text -- Mongo. Very much up to your usual high standards!
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Thank you all for looking in and your comments. Mongo is glad you liked the colour/PP and the story.
Mike, it is close to Sydney. The small artificial lakes at Bicentennial Park at the old Olympics site, Homebush.
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Great serie of pictures! You have really captured some behaviorial traits here. First time I saw this bird I thought it was a snake swimming in the water, but then it took off and I was to baffeled to get a shot :)
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Lovely story and images Mongo! It is always a pleasure to read your posts. I learn a lot from them.
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very interesting series and story. would be a good use for 14 Frames per Second.
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thank you B&W - glad you like the series
thank you Jakov. Mongo has as much pleasure from writing the accompanying story as does taken and presenting the images. Even better when they are a combined presentation. Thank you - it is comments like yours that encourage this sort of post - after all Mongo wants to be allowed to sweep the floors for National Geographic when he grows up (LOL !).
Thanks to you too Frank. Yes, 14 frames/sec might have been very handy but not sure that Mongo had his D4s at that time. Still swear by the D800 series (any of them !)
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Mongo, I am certain that National Geographic will snatch you one of these days.
In the meantime, Nikon Gear will enjoy your posts.
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Mongo, I am certain that National Geographic will snatch you one of these days.
In the meantime, Nikon Gear will enjoy your posts.
LOL.....lOL.............
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Thanks to you too Frank. Yes, 14 frames/sec might have been very handy but not sure that Mongo had his D4s at that time. Still swear by the D800 series (any of them !)
I was thinking into the D5 direction with prefocussing the scene and hammering it near film like...
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I was thinking into the D5 direction with prefocussing the scene and hammering it near film like...
11 frames/sec - v - 14 frames/sec.......what's 3/frames between friends ? but a good idea nonetheless.