Toucan Barbet

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03-25-2009, 08:46 PM
Nate Chappell

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Toucan Barbet

Here's a Toucan Barbet from one of our trips to Ecuador. This one and a couple of others were coming into banana feeders at Sachatamia Lodge in Mindo. Cropped a bit on top and left.

MkIII 500F4 1.4X 1/100 F7.1, iso 1000, evaluative metering -0.3, 580 ex -1.3, Gitzo Tripod
03-25-2009, 08:48 PM
Randy Stout

Nate:

A very nice image. Sharp, well exposed, good composition, interesting perch, nice background.

Makes me want to head way south!

Randy
03-25-2009, 09:11 PM
Dick Glover

Nate,
I like the pose, sharpness, BG and this unusual bird. All combine to make a very fine image. Only suggestion might be to remove the small white spots on the head. We missed this one while in Ecuador, so thanks for sharing.
Dick
03-25-2009, 10:39 PM
Aidan Briggs

Lovely BG and subject. Very sharp throughout. I would like to see that interesting perch more in focus, but judging from your settings, there wasn't enough light for a higher f-stop.

Well done.
03-26-2009, 01:18 AM
Simon Bennett

Very crisp presentation of a very cool bird.
03-26-2009, 10:41 AM
Chris van Rooyen

Lovely control of flashlight, great looking bird, cool perch and beautiful background.
03-26-2009, 02:34 PM
Ramon M. Casares

Great light, detail, BG, pose, perch and colors, great DOF in the bird. COngratulaitons!
03-26-2009, 03:36 PM
Arthur Morris

Nate, please do not take this personally but this image is dead KILLER! A great bird, sharp, cool perch, a great bird--what colors--oh my!, wonderful EXP, great pose and head angle, and a sweet BKGR.

How were the hummingbird feeders at that lodge?
03-26-2009, 03:56 PM
Nate Chappell

Thanks Artie! The hummingbird feeders are very good there, if we run a tour to the west side we always stay there when in Mindo. It's the best place to see and photograph Velvet-purple Coronet, one of the most beautiful species. Of course, there are many other species there as well. Besides that, its a really nice lodge, particularly if you stay in one of the detached units.
03-26-2009, 05:05 PM
Arthur Morris

Thanks for the info Nate. Do you know if the Toucan Barbet is regular there or were you just lucky?
03-26-2009, 05:26 PM
Nate Chappell

The Toucan Barbet is regular there. Sometimes they will come to the banana feeders, which is ideal because then you have a chance to get this type of shot. However, sometimes they will only come in the early morning to pluck insects from the trees near the lamp post. I think it depends how much wild fruit is available in the surrounding forest. If they are just coming for the insects it's more difficult to get a clean shot, but it's certainly the best spot I know of in Ecuador to get a good image of one. I have head shots from the feeders as well.
03-26-2009, 07:02 PM
Arthur Morris

Thanks again Nate. I keep scrolling back up to enjoy that beautiful bird. Is the red at the base of the bill fruit or part of the bill?
03-26-2009, 07:11 PM
Nate Chappell

Thanks Artie, it is part of the bill.
03-27-2009, 09:24 AM
Mark Schmitt

Just love the bird, and the exposure is excellent. If I may, if it were mine, I might do some PP on the darker portions of the wing to lift some of the detail that is there: perhaps in a layer of it's own and use curves and a bit of selective dodgeing: just MHO. Great shot, that being said. ;-)