I'm Walking... Photo

Photographer’s Note

Returning from my trip to Berner Oberland I'd like to start off with a charming little fellow I met among the Swiss mountains. It's shot at the terrace outside the restaurant at Eigergletcher (2.320m/7'612ft), where I enjoyed my caffè crème in the warmth of the Alpine sun.

It's an Alpine Chough [Pyrrhocorax graculus], known as the Alpendohle in the local language. They are common mountain birds normally at an altitude around 2000 meters - but may be seen as high as 4000 meters – and is easily recognized by the bright yellow bill and legs that range in color from salmon orange to a deep red.

These birds are excellent flyers and also seem to enjoy the art of flying - when they throw themselves down the precipices - being able to reach speeds over 200km/h (125mph) with folded wings. Only to return in the next moment as an acrobatic soarer on the upwind along the abyss.

In search for food they have become almost domesticated and do not fear us humans. They will eat human foods such as bread, meat, cheese, etc. – even out of your hands - and they are habitual scavengers around human dwellings as restaurants, picnic places and - garbage tips...

Somewhere in the background is Schilthorn (2.970m/9'744ft), situated on the other side of the Lauterbrunnen valley. That's where I first – while traveling together with my son some years ago – noticed these birds and really came to appreciate their 'display of advanced flying'.

So this fellow's appearance was a nice reunion!

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Image cropped, adjusted levels and curves, increased saturation +10 and in red and yellow +30 and in blue +20, reduced cyan –20, ran NeatImage at 60%, resized for TE, sharpened and faded to 50%, framed and saved for Web.

nwoehnl, ChristianS, kent_s, digi-mom, orme, itamaratiya, pamastro trouve(nt) cette note utile

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tashi-wangmo (30) 2005-03-25 12:23

so cute ! a good time for a shot...the background is beautiful! Sunny little Alpine crow!

naxius (16679) 2005-03-25 12:43

Very good Kaj!
The DOF is excellent here so that this black bird is well detached from this nice background.
Well done.
Alex

dolin (15647) 2005-03-25 12:44

Hi.
Excellent shot.
The position of the bird is perfect.
Good clearness et nice POV.
Great job.
Fred

MvS (4163) 2005-03-25 13:56

Kaj,
Mycket rolig och tuff bild, som förtjänar folkets jubel!
Kråkan med sin gula näbb och röda fötter på drinkbrädan med Alperna bakom sig. Kanon!
Magnus

itamaratiya (539) 2005-03-25 13:58

Great contrast between the walking guy and the mountains on the back.
Well done

Itamar

(I would say "so cute" too if I wasn't a guy...)

nwoehnl (120) 2005-03-25 14:01

Hello Kaj, welcome back. A nice photo you made of the bird striding along the wooden handrail - good timing with one leg in the air. Good handling of the shallow DOF to clearly convey the alpine setting, but otherwise direct full attention to the major subject of the scene.

[2]

pipistrela (39) 2005-03-25 15:34

Hello Kaj, Wonderful photograph fantastic DOF love the contrast of the Black Bird with the dove white moutain background. Chiara

shalin (135) 2005-03-25 17:34

isn;t this mt. titlis cafe point? Love the shot - I saw these birds a couple of days ago too :)

jrzufferey (7249) 2005-03-25 17:55

Magnifique, le Chocard alpin à bec jaune est magnifiquement capturé, un véritable portrait de l'oiseau. Amicalement/jr

ChristianS (2997) 2005-03-25 18:23

Very nice shot and funny too. Great DOF which separates and brings out the bird from the surrounding environment. Nice contrast between the black bird and the white mountains in the background. Well done!

Mvh, Christian

dkeus31 (26351) 2005-03-26 5:57

Hi Kaj,
Very good details, DOF and attitude of the Alpendohle.

strangiato (76) 2005-03-26 6:11

A bird doing the catwalk..............:)
Good "action" shot with a pleasant contrast between the bird and the background.

kent_s (1911) 2005-03-26 16:34

Another perfect shot from you Kaj. This cocky little fellow on the "birdwalk" has a very colorful nose that brighten up the pic.
The focus is perfect and the unsharp background is beautiful.

Well done again
Glad påsk

Ebbe (9571) 2005-03-26 16:43

Standing on one leg at the edge - you found a suicidal bird! But the DOF and the contrast works well and the slanting board adds a diagonal. Just wish Kaj was a bit less centered.

orme (6746) 2005-03-27 2:20

A brilliant shot, Kaj. You captured the bird at just the right moment with one 'claw' in the air. Excellent DOF and good contrasting colours. Well seen.

pamastro (7213) 2005-03-27 17:45

Hello, Kaj. Welcome back from your trip. I like the sharpness and clearness of this shot and the depth of field. The bird stands out excellently. And it's humourous how you captured him. He seems like a soldier on patrol, marching across this railing in his mountain fortress. Great work.

I saw this a few days ago and when I went to the river yesterday I got a photo of a sea gull that I probably would not have taken if I had not seen this one. So that will be up in a few days time, most likely.

mitternacht (1836) 2005-03-28 3:10

Hi Kaj,
Thank you for all the information, interesting little fellows. This is a good close-up, where the two most prominent features you mentioned (yellow beak and orange feet) are clear and this serves as a good illustration to your note. Seing it walking on the railing like that makes the part about them not being afraid of humans and scavenging restaurants more vivid. Sharpness is really good here, the texture of the wood is well captured, and the DOF is excellent.

Glad Påsk
Simon

leuz (0) 2005-03-31 4:25

The white Peak in the background is not the schilthorn. it's the Bietenhorn (the Schiltorn is more on the left).
Nice Picture
rolf

cloverstar (0) 2005-04-18 10:34

Perfect timing Kaj. Love the way the leg is extended upwards in the walking position. He is perfectly situated with those gorgeous mountains in the background. Excellent depth of field for this one.

Lolydodia (578) 2005-04-25 16:18

I can´t say much! :D really funny pic, well done!!

shirgold (2439) 2006-11-03 5:21

Hi Kaj,
This is truly a lovely bird. I love the way you captured it - standing on one leg, snowy mountains in the back ground. The fact that the bird is standing on a human made wooden structure also shows how accustomed they have became of human presence.
So - you image contains a lot of info in it.
TFS - Shir