The Flickr Gracefulflight Image Generatr

Beneath the blue, it freely soars,
A traveler between ocean shores.
Unbound by earth, on wings of grace,
Carving paths through the boundless space.

Two crows soar gracefully above, their silhouettes etched against a textured grey canvas.

against the backdrop of a brooding sky, a solitary seagull glides gracefully, its wings outstretched in silent command of the air currents. the overcast canvas accentuates the bird's effortless flight, a symbol of freedom and resilience. this moment captures the essence of nature's simplicity, a single predator in its element, undisturbed by the world below, sovereign in its aerial domain.

As most of you know one of my favorite subjects are birds of prey. I've studied them deeply for most of my life. This is a photograph of a Turkey Vulture in flight. I photographed this raptor at Petit Jean State Park in the winter of 2005.
What I like most about this photograph is that it represents the graceful flight of these vultures. They are masters of maneuvering thermals, allowing effortless, endless flight time. These birds of prey aren't often appreciated for all the benefit they provide to nature, which among many, includes removing dead animals (carrion) before they can spread disease. Their highly acidic stomach acid allows them to eat carcasses without getting sick. They have a keen sense of smell, among the best in the bird world, and incredible vision. This species is the largest vulture in Arkansas, with a wingspan of 6-feet, standing about 30-inches tall.
One of the easiest distinguishing marks of this bird is the beautiful silver lining of the underside of the primary feathers, extending most of the length of each wing. Another mark is the red head. In flight, they are easily identifiable from their V-shaped wings in flight.
Comments welcome.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas 2005.
Photo # set4_DSC_0174hdr

Capturing the elegance of the White Cockatoo! ✨ Did you know these fascinating birds are not just a feast for the eyes but also full of intriguing facts?

The White Cockatoo, with its impressive lifespan of up to 70 years, not only charms with its snowy plumage but also captivates hearts with its remarkable intelligence and ability to mimic human speech.

🌟 #WhiteCockatooMagic #FeatheredElegance #CockatooLove #AvianAesthetics #SnowyBeauty #CockatooFacts #NatureWonders #GracefulFlight #EtherealFeathers #BirdsofInstagram #CockatooAdventures 🌈

1. #EtherealNature
2. #ButterflyMagic
3. #BlossomingWonders
4. #NaturePerfection
5. #WhisperingPetals
6. #ColorfulCreatures
7. #GardenBeauty
8. #WingedDelight
9. #InsectKingdom
10. #GracefulFlight
11. #FloralHaven
12. #ButterflyGarden
13. #NaturePhotography
14. #EnchantingMoments
15. #FlowerPower
16. #NatureLovers
17. #ButterflyBliss
18. #BotanicalParadise
19. #NaturalElegance
20. #SpringVibes
21. #DelicateBeauty
22. #PollinatorLove
23. #MagicalEncounters
24. #VisionsOfNature
25. #FlowerBouquet
26. #HarmonyInNature
27. #ButterflyKisses
28. #BloomingPerfection
29. #PurplePassion
30. #SereneScenes

1. #EtherealNature
2. #ButterflyMagic
3. #BlossomingWonders
4. #NaturePerfection
5. #WhisperingPetals
6. #ColorfulCreatures
7. #GardenBeauty
8. #WingedDelight
9. #InsectKingdom
10. #GracefulFlight
11. #FloralHaven
12. #ButterflyGarden
13. #NaturePhotography
14. #EnchantingMoments
15. #FlowerPower
16. #NatureLovers
17. #ButterflyBliss
18. #BotanicalParadise
19. #NaturalElegance
20. #SpringVibes
21. #DelicateBeauty
22. #PollinatorLove
23. #MagicalEncounters
24. #VisionsOfNature
25. #FlowerBouquet
26. #HarmonyInNature
27. #ButterflyKisses
28. #BloomingPerfection
29. #PurplePassion
30. #SereneScenes

Gracefully hovering over the prey. The hunt in the Refuge would end seconds later with a swoop and catch.

At an Ocotillo Golf Club lake right before the wedding started.

Taken on Brownsea Island

Week 5 – Technical- Ten Shots

Graceful Flight

The brief for this week was as follows;
Technical - Ten Shots: Shoot 10 shots of the same subject. Each shot should be from a different angle, distance, and focal length. Share your favorite image from the set.

This week was more difficult than I thought it would be. I imagined that I'd just pick out a subject, pack my bag, head out take 10 or so shots, whilst playing around with framing and focal lengths but it was much harder than I thought it would be given the subjects I chose.

I initially went to a train museum armed with my gear but found it extremely difficult to get what I was looking for due to bright skies, large shadows and a lack of available space to move around in. So I headed off to try some macro shots which I was a little more successful with but it was a huge patience game due to the strong breeze and foot traffic in the Williamstown Botanical Gardens and in the end I just didn't like what I had captured.

On the way home I decided to get my step count up and practice my bird photography which is one of my personal challenges for 2017. In my third attempt at my ’10 shot shoot’ I was able to shoot a variety of birds along the Kororoit Creek from several angles and distances. On the water, nesting, on the ground, landing, taking off and in full flight. I captured gulls, ducks, pigeons, pelicans, herons, sparrows, ibis, wrens, etc. In the end I went with this as my fav. It is not perfect but it is handheld and I am gaining further experience with this genre. (Note to self: Watch your Shutter Speed)

Whipsnade 07-04-2015 5D2A2789

Whipsnade 07-04-2015 5D2A2431

Whipsnade 07-04-2015 5D2A3258

Whipsnade 07-04-2015 5D2A3234

White Pelicans on the South Saskatchewan River, Goofy looking guys who never fail to amaze me when I get the chance to see them soaring gracefully in perfect formation