The Hat

Gallery: AvianPosted March 13, 20146,526 views32 comments

The last days I could witness an amazing event: the murmuration of thousands of Starlings. Very impressive, hypnotizing and something that even makes me silent... till long afterwards. One of the most beautiful things of nature I have seen overhere.... Just after sunset, these Starlings regroup before heading for their roosting places - making indescribable patterns in the sky. This one to me looks like a 19th century Ladies Hat (although my wife sees a jellyfish in it, ah well

). Anyway, more to see on my most recent blog

www.hansoverduin.nl/blog/

Hope you like it ! Cheers, Hans

Nikon D4 with 70-200mm lens @ 122mm | 1/80s | f2.8 | ISO2200 | underexposed 1/3EV | handheld while trembling from this experience

Comments

32 comments

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on March 13, 2014 at 7:02 AM

What an image!!! This is amazing, Hans.
The shape the birds produced is very nice.
The colors of the background is also very beautiful. I really liked this image!

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 13, 2014 at 7:03 AM

Just amazing Hans - love that 'tail'

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 13, 2014 at 7:36 AM

Talk about a unique post. This is amazing. The colors are what make it special for me. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on March 13, 2014 at 8:16 AM

Again, stunning work

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 13, 2014 at 9:03 AM

Wonderful capture Hans. So good to get a decent coloured sky as BG too.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 13, 2014 at 11:08 AM

Incredible Hans. I just viewed the video on it the other day. It must be amazing to witness live.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Cempa on March 13, 2014 at 11:50 AM

Great shot, Hans. Actually, checked out the blog, and a great job capturing this amazing event. Hope to see one of these one day, too.

Registered on March 10, 2006, 50 Posts, 189 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on March 13, 2014 at 12:14 PM

You see a hat. I see a flying anteater.

Must've been an amazing sight to witness and photograph.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Louis Pattis on March 13, 2014 at 12:16 PM

Great hat, beautifully shaped, what a gift from the birds to you, presented in the twilight zone and you were able to freeze this moment in time, brilliant !.

Registered on March 30, 2012, 0 Posts, 164 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on March 13, 2014 at 2:57 PM

This is a great image. I looked at your other images and they are all really good. The light and composition is very good on all of them. Fine work.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 13, 2014 at 3:20 PM

Thanks all for your kind words so far ! Really appreciated ... BUT: this is one of the (few) images where the photographer can't really add much - it's only the Starlings that have done the work, I merely pressed the shutter

. Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 13, 2014 at 5:00 PM

The tail is amazing! I can't wait to go look at the others! Wonderful capture! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on March 13, 2014 at 6:41 PM

Amazing moment -- and very nicely presented

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Oakley on March 13, 2014 at 6:49 PM

Incredible image Hans

Registered on June 12, 2012, 115 Posts, 266 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 13, 2014 at 8:04 PM

Spectacular image Hans, great lighting and shape, congrats

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Finchum on March 13, 2014 at 9:06 PM

Wow... what a wall hanger for sure. Beautiful capture Hans.

Registered on September 8, 2013, 43 Posts, 222 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on March 14, 2014 at 12:27 AM

Hans,
Are you kidding me????? Holy Cow, what an image. The shape of the murmuration is incredible. Must have been something to see let alone photograph. I'm completely speechless at this image. My hats (no pun intended) off to you for an amazing piece of work. Any of us here would love to have something like this in our collection.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Neal Cooper on March 14, 2014 at 2:47 AM

Hans. This is a stunning image and at 1/80s very well done..

Registered on June 3, 2009, 144 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 14, 2014 at 3:53 AM

Amazing Photo Hans

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on March 14, 2014 at 9:42 AM

WOW...........
Hans,
Magical capture.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 14, 2014 at 12:33 PM

Hans, this is simply magical!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 14, 2014 at 3:12 PM

A wonderful and stunning image (looks like a dolphin to me). I just recently saw a video of this and it was amazing to watch. Excellent shot Hans and it must have been exciting to witness this, way to cool.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on March 14, 2014 at 5:58 PM

That's really cool, Hans!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Marina Scarr on March 16, 2014 at 3:50 PM

I saw this thumbnail on my cell phone for almost a week now wondering what it was. Now I know. Love this image. The light was stunning. It almost looks the shape of a hat. The BG and form are spectacular!

Registered on March 6, 2014, 11 Posts, 104 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on March 16, 2014 at 7:56 PM

This is amazing! What an exceptional image Hans!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 20, 2014 at 6:15 PM

Congrats Hans...was the first image I know I would have chosen for the WP. One of the better avian moments I have seen captured. I sure hope this makes its way to a few contests this year.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on March 20, 2014 at 10:12 PM

Hans,
I knew this would get the weekly pick. It is simply stellar in every way. Congratulations.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 20, 2014 at 11:09 PM

wonderful image, Hans. congrats on the WP-- very well deserved.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 20, 2014 at 11:41 PM

Excellent!!

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 21, 2014 at 6:32 AM

Thanks once more to all for your kind words and to NPN for choosing this as the WP !

Greetings from The Netherlands, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 21, 2014 at 8:25 PM

Congrats on the pick...stellar image! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 27, 2014 at 4:10 PM

Amazing capture..I've been trying for years to get something like this. The only ones I ever see are with dull, non-.descript BG's
Congrats on an excellent WP!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments