Great White Fight is a photograph by AnnaJo Vahle which was uploaded on February 26th, 2015.
Great White Fight
I recently took a series of photographs of this pair of great white egrets at battle. I have already put one of them up on my website. I did a... more
by AnnaJo Vahle
Title
Great White Fight
Artist
AnnaJo Vahle
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
I recently took a series of photographs of this pair of great white egrets at battle. I have already put one of them up on my website. I did a large acrylic painting of another moment of the same fight, too. I chose to paint a moment when they looked as if they were not fighting, but dancing in the air. I was concerned about whether to show this particular scene at all. I knew that it was a bit violent to use for a painting. That painting is in my painting gallery. I titled it: The Dance of Life.
I wasn't sure it it was even good to put among my photographs on my web site. I have now decided that it is all part of life. This photograph shows in some detail just how violent these birds can get with each other. I watched this behavior several times that afternoon. I was amazed at just how seriously they fought.
They are in breeding season at the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge in Florida. The air was filled with their energy. Most of the birds around and below them, seemed oblivious to what the fighting egrets were doing. I found that nearly as interesting as the fight, itself. It was for that reason; that I felt compelled to do a painting of the subject.
I never noticed any serious injuries from this brief but violent scuffles. That, too, surprised me. Normally, one thinks of these birds as a beautiful subject. I thought that it was interesting to show this other aspect of them. I, also, found it interesting to see the many species of birds hanging out together. Some of them had their little scuffles from time to time, too.
3rd place, tied win, in LOCAL PARK NATURE SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY, contest
Uploaded
February 26th, 2015
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Comments (45)
Gary F Richards
Excellent composition, lighting, shading, color and artwork! F/L voted for this piece in the contest ANIMALS WITH OPEN MOUTH
Gary F Richards
Outstanding capture, lighting, shading, color and artwork! F/L … voted this one in the RIGHT PLACE RIGHT TIME Contest!
GJ Glorijean
Annajo, Any of your art &/or photographs that need visibility, bring awareness, cause, indie... You may share in the ACL as well as artist mini shares in the discussion. Fantastic capture! Protecting those young ones! GJ glorijean
Maria Faria Rodrigues
Congratulations, on 3rd place, tied win, in LOCAL PARK NATURE SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY, contest!
Maria Hunt
Well... um ... wow.. Does this mean he is not welcome? Wonderful capture, AnnaJo. I am in awe of some of your captures. F/L & V
AnnaJo Vahle replied:
Thank you so much, Maria. I did get the impression that they didn’t like each other.
Heather King
ABSOLUTELY phenomenal capture, OH MY GOSH!!!!! INCREDIBLE photography AnnaJo FV & following you:))
Ann Horn
Great caught-in-the-act photo, AnnaJo. Interesting to see the crowd around them doing their own thing and seeming to pay no attention to the two combatants! f/l