California Vulture, by Laria Saunders

I was on the cliffs of the beautiful Mendocino coastline just north of San Francisco California. There were many ravens flying around then suddenly a California vulture appeared. When you first see these enormous birds your breath is literally taken away! I think he/she was riding the air currents, so I excitedly made attempts to capture the large wing span against the ocean below but I think the ravens were annoying him as he/she quickly disappeared.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 | 1/1600 sec @ f/5.6 | ISO 100 | Focal Length 300mm
California Vulture, by Laria Saunders

Award Winner: Photo of the Day | November 23
Award Score: 66.5 (Value 11.5, Clarity 12, Composition 18, Style 12, Skill 13)
Photo of the Day Award Category: Wildlife Photography
Photograph Location: Mendocino, California | The United States

Photographer: Laria Saunders (Oakland, California, United States) Registered
Laria Saunders is an award-winning photographer from California with a passion for photography that spans three decades. She comes from a family of artists, is self-taught and has a BA from UCLA/World Arts & Culture. She started off as a dancer/teacher until 1998 when she became disabled with Chronic Migraines, Partial Transverse Myelitis and other pain syndromes. Severe pain caused total isolation for many years including seven months of hospitalization and continues to disable her today. Thanks to the support of her partner, James she is able to pursue her love for abstract, nature and street photography and just completed a five-year abstract collection. Laria currently lives in East Bay, San Francisco.

Portfolio: http://www.lariasaunders.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LariaSaunders
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lariafineartphotography