Pigeon framed by arch of Pulteney Bridge
Cheers for the tip Alex!
I have run a couple of noise filters in Photoshop and given the background a combination of radial blur (to give the impression of a 'zoom' motion) and gaussian blur (to make the radial blur more subtle)
I was standing by the beer garden of The Boater, Bath, snapping randomly as birds did the rounds of the weir. I'd got about 30 photos, and they were all rubbish. Seemed like I was never going to get a decent one. Suddenly a single pigeon hopped off the top of the bridge and flew towards me. I think he'd spotted my giant traditional steak pastie. Gave me a great photo opportunity.
The bird, along with several of his buddies were destroyed by Bath City Pest Control just moments later. Then they started on the swans. It was ugly.
I just couldn't watch when they caught the poor dolphin
Comments and faves
alex craig, NatBat, Africanfuturist, honeyfumblings, and 160 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Rosemea MacPherson [deleted] (86 months ago | reply)
Hey there..
I can change into most Fav..
I did not know the true meaning
of favorite..This is my top picture and top commented photo..
I will delete it...
Have a nice weekend!!
BTW nice photo!
XOXOXOXO
NatBat (86 months ago | reply)
Thats such a tragic end to the story! I trust you are just making that last bit up :/
Great photo, I bet it must feel great to have your dissertation handed in and be able to use flickr guilt free again :p
Beachy (86 months ago | reply)
Thanks Nat and Rosemea.
The BCPC .. *shudder* It was practically genocide. After the pigeons, they lifted several swans out of the water and put them in the back of their truck. I overheard them saying they were headed for the 'animal hospital run by Rolf's evil twin'
thepipes (86 months ago | reply)
Stunning.
larry&flo (86 months ago | reply)
a great photo, love the light through the wings and the framing and tones. Not to happy with the birdocide though.
Beachy (86 months ago | reply)
heh, birdocide, good word.
Bash Linx (86 months ago | reply)
Beautiful shot, Really terrible story, Maybe this photo was pigion's last words
Smatchmo (86 months ago | reply)
Genius
X-travalueMeal#2 (86 months ago | reply)
Really great. Wonderful use of your PS filters to isolate the bird in a natural tastefull way. Cheers.
3views (86 months ago | reply)
Great composition.
pablohart (86 months ago | reply)
Breathtaking photo!
gms (86 months ago | reply)
Brilliant photo. Always hang out for that last shot!
Sad story though.
Beachy (86 months ago | reply)
My comic skills could do with some work.. no birds were destroyed :-)
alex@faraway (86 months ago | reply)
Picture a rat with wings going for your pastie. Not so sad now eh? Whose dinner is it anyway?!
evernever (86 months ago | reply)
I really like it.
s3ood (86 months ago | reply)
breathtaking
Photo Mama (86 months ago | reply)
LOL the shot and the story!
good job.
SteveFE (86 months ago | reply)
Brilliant! Birds in flight are bloody difficult to catch but you got a nice shot there.
arouradragon (86 months ago | reply)
I agree... Nice!
christian wind (86 months ago | reply)
you pressed the button just at the right moment. congrats
neloqua (86 months ago | reply)
Impressive,indeed!
Humberto "Sachiel" López (86 months ago | reply)
Wow!
Ichor (85 months ago | reply)
stunning
Mattijn (85 months ago | reply)
Very good too bad it has this sad ending..
Roger B. (85 months ago | reply)
That's a stunner!
tomswift46 ( Hi Res Images for Sale) (85 months ago | reply)
Incredible image and story! Beautiful shot. I have to say they are what we call "rats with wings"...carry disease..too bad..I like other animals better than many people...
epiphany15 (85 months ago | reply)
Beautiful!! i love it
baboon™ (85 months ago | reply)
great catch
baboon™ (85 months ago | reply)
great catch
swardraws (85 months ago | reply)
you captured this bird just perfect
christyscherrer (85 months ago | reply)
the framing is the first thing that jumps out as excellent, but the colors are wonderfully subtle and coordinated - nothing out of place.
christyscherrer (85 months ago | reply)
the framing is the first thing that jumps out as excellent, but the colors are wonderfully subtle and coordinated - nothing out of place.
rpgwhitelock (85 months ago | reply)
It might be a sad story. But pigeons are basically flying rats. Except they can drop poo on your head.
Great pic though! The pigeon does look good.
Hilary (curioush) (85 months ago | reply)
okay, i hope i understand you correctly and the last part was a joke.
this photo is incredible.
flappingwings (85 months ago | reply)
Totally awesome!
Kaká (85 months ago | reply)
great picture! perfect treatment.
bravewest (85 months ago | reply)
wonderful!!!
BrunoMeunier.com (85 months ago | reply)
great action shot!!! congrats!
Jan Tik (85 months ago | reply)
Great stuff!
florriebassingbourn (85 months ago | reply)
Anyone going to speak up for ordinary rats without wings? It's a profound issue. Any other species must reckon we're ripe for culling. Superb picture anyway, made bittersweet by the context. (Must find out what Gaussian blur does one day ...)
ღWild Lilyღ (83 months ago | reply)
So peaceful
wonderful perspective!
Beachy (83 months ago | reply)
Barbfi: "how were the pidgeons killed?"
Only in my imagination -- but it was pretty savage!
Beachy (83 months ago | reply)
Barbfi: "pity the bird is out of focus"
Next time I will arrange for the bird to be paused whilst I make the necessary adjustments on my camera :-)
sniffette (83 months ago | reply)
ditto on the focus. just because it's very difficult to do doesn't mean that you get a free pass at failing.
-voted as "deleteme" (from Delete me! group)
Beachy (83 months ago | reply)
sniffette: "just because it's very difficult to do doesn't mean that you get a free pass at failing."
Damn, I was really counting on that free pass at failing...
Optimus Paul (83 months ago | reply)
it's not very good, and there are too many comments and groups for me to care too much about this.
-voted as "deleteme" (from Delete me! group)
Beachy (83 months ago | reply)
Optimus Paul: "there are too many comments and groups for me to care too much about this."
Battle the Orwellian evil of "group-think"! :-)
Blue Dragonfly Girl (83 months ago | reply)
it's gorgeous -- i don't think it matters that it could be sharper.
voted as "saveme" in (Delete me! group)
Eggz (83 months ago | reply)
Framed but blurry!
voted as "deleteme" (from Delete me! group)
mscaprikell (83 months ago | reply)
great composition.... yes, that much is true.... and I am not that bothered by the blur of the bird... so, for some bizarre reason... I do feel compelled to... be kind.
-vote as "saveme" (from Delete me! group)