Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

[Stu Bowie]

I always try and position myself so that I get these guys against a clean BG. These Hornbills frequent most of the picnic spots in the Kruger national park looking for morsels from the public. Furthermore, I mostly go for a portrait shot, as they are normally perched on a low wooden fence, thus not the ideal perch. Taken back in August.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 200-400 with 1.4 TC engaged = 560mm ( rented )
1/1250
F/10
ISO 640

[Tony Whitehead]

Lovely portrait, Stu. Great pose and BG and pin sharp. Captures the character of these birds beautifully. Good aperture choice to get enough DOF. Careful you don't fall in love with that lens:S3:

[David Salem]

That's a beautiful portrait Stuart. Great exposure control and nice feather detail. Nice colors and the Bg is awesome. Very nice! Oh I like the eyelashes too.

[Martin Dunn]

Wonderful sharpness and detail Stuart. Great background and great pose.
Only a couple of weeks until I'll be trying my luck with these fellas.

I'm interested to see that you use a TC with a zoom lens.
I've been advised against it yet the quality of this image is first rate

[Richard Flack]

Great image Stuart!

[Bhasmang Mehta]

Wonderful image Stuart... loved it...

[Stu Bowie]

I'm interested to see that you use a TC with a zoom lens.
I've been advised against it yet the quality of this image is first rate

Thanks Martin. This lens has a built-in 1.4 TC. With a flick of the switch, it engages the 1.4 TC. It is an awesome lens. Artie has even added an external 1.4 TC onto this lens too, and hasnt lost any IQ.

Thank you everyone else for your feedback.

[Melissa Groo]

That's a stunner, Stuart. Great work on the depth of field. Super detail and sharpness throughout. Lovely complementary color to the background. And such an endearing, inquisitive look at you.

[Frank Schauf]

Beautiful portrait, great details and eye contact.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Hello Stu! this looks way good man! love the fine feather detail that you capture here. I guess it is not hard to fall in love with that new lens. excellente clarity in the eye and nice light.

[hennieloots]

Hi Stu - Beautiful portrait. I enjoyed the IQ and fine details. Great Bg. Is that list back-ordered for you yet?
Cheers
Hennie

[Daniel Cadieux]

Aesome portrait Stu, and the bill pointing up has added some interest to the image.

[Robert Kimbrell]

That's sooo nice Stewart. The Golden color of that beak is so rich yet natural looking, That a nice looking background and really compliments. The sharpness and detail look great. It looks like he was posing for you.

[Dan Busby]

Fantastic profile of this species Stuart! Wonderful rich colours and detail with exposure and processing nailed. Good advertisement for that lens with t/c engaged too.

[Satish Ranadive]

What a wonderful details in feathers you have captured here, Stuart Sir,Love the colors, BG, composition and wonderful eye with shadows of eyelids on it.Regards,Satish.

[Doug Brown]

In Africa, Hornbills frequent picnic areas....lucky you! In America, all we get are pigeons! Really nice portrait Stuart; are you going to buy a 200-400 after your rental experience?

[Jonathan Ashton]

Absolute cracker Stu the detail is superb - nearly as good as with the 100-400:w3. No, really you do have amazing detail, which direction was the light coming from - roughly what angle can you remember?

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent image Stuart! I like the pose, clarity, eyelash shadow, IQ and sweet BG colour.

[Girish Prahalad]

stunning portrait! cracking details, BG, colors & DOF.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack for all the kind words and feedback everyone. Always appreciated.

[gail bisson]

This is the nicest image of a hornbill I have seen. the IQ and sharpness are superb.
Love the complimentary BG and the light.
Congrats on a superb shot Stuart,
Gail

[Gabriela Plesea]

Great image, Stu! Amazing detail and killer BG. Love the warm colours, indeed one of the best images of Hornbill I have seen:S3:

Kind regards,