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Thread: Black Skimmer, and Learned Something New...

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Default Black Skimmer, and Learned Something New...

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    From Fort Desoto back in April. A small flock of about 10 birds allowed a close approach, but as is the case with loafing groups of birds it was difficult to isolate one individual. The workaround was to go for close portraits, and even with that I had to clone out a tail tip at right edge! While working on the file I noticed the pupil was slit shaped (cat-like)...I wasn't sure if was the way it was supposed to be or not so I googled it and sure enough I learned that skimmers are the only birds that have pupils that constrict in this shape. You can see it a bit here...cool!!

    Canon 7D + 100-400L @400mm, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/1250s., f/6.3, ISO 400 (histogram checked), natural light, handheld, cloned out a tail at right, a few blown highlights in the water tamed via clone tool @ 30% opacity.

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    Forum Participant Richard Unsworth's Avatar
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    Nice one Daniel

    Weird and interesting observation
    Last edited by Richard Unsworth; 07-22-2012 at 04:21 PM.

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Very nice and very good details w/ exceptional sharpness.
    Dan Kearl

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    Wow ~

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    Forum Participant Joe Senzatimore's Avatar
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    Good workaround and a sweet image. Great detail and super BG.

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    Excellent close up shot. Exposed very well, detail is superb, and excellent comp.
    Well done.

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Beautiful portrait and an interesting scientific tidbit! Excellent exposure and great detail.
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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Dan, excellent exposure, which in turn has brought out the finer detail very well. Sharp, and interesting fact about the eye - which you have shown nicely. Good low angle of capture too.

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    Beautiful Daniel, interesting about the eye, and just as interesting are the serrations on the lower beak.

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    Forum Participant christopher galeski's Avatar
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    nice image Daniel,good low angle,well exposed,very good detail.

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    Excellent detail in this image Daniel, thanks for sharing the interesting facts about the shape of the iris of the eye, news to me

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Daniel - great detail and portrait with excellent exp. Interesting info about the pupil.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Terrific sharp shot. Really puts the emphasis on that great bill. Nicely exposed. I've taken a bunch of close-up Skimmer shots, but never noticed that about the eye. Thanks for the tidbit.

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    Hi Daniel,

    Superb capture which shows us pupil's perfect slit shape and Thanks for very good information.

    - Maya

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    Magnificent portrait, Sir. I like the beautiful low angle, the serrations on the lower beak,slit shaped pupil,which is new to me.
    Love the as usual great sharpness,details in lovely colors,exposure and lights.
    Regards.

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    Great image Daniel! I like the sharpness, details and exposure. Thanks for the information too.

  17. #17
    rajojomanik
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    Fantastic details on this Skimmer Daniel.

    As usual, I missed out on this one when I was there. Oh well there's always next year.

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