Definitely NOT one of the most attractive members of our wild heritage, the Black Vulture. That head, black, withered, craggy, nasty skin tends to be, I don’t know, a turn off? And the fact they eat dead and smelly stuff, just doesn’t endear them to anybody either. Photographically though, they are a bitch to shoot. That’s because they are all black. In the Costa Rican rainforest they are everywhere and a very important part of its ecology. In the spotty light of the rainforest, a black subject on a white branch is an exposure nightmare! In making the uncommon out of the common, the Black Vulture needs just a kiss of light to bring out the cool texture in their plumage. At the same time, that head no matter how ugly needs a little love too. Making this shot was actually, pretty easy once you made the walk and dealt with the humidity. Walking down the steep trail into the valley, you are able to shoot right across at eyelevel where the Black Vultures like to roost as the sun rises. Reaching them with the D4s / 800mm w/TC-1.25 once zooming with with your feet is a synch. Then, it’s simply fine tuning where the rig is set up to peak through the vines and make the shot. And making the whole click come together is that small spot of light barely kissing the Vulture but not the branch. Look for that light, think of making the common uncommon and use the lens to bring it all together in the viewfinder!