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Australian Painted Snipe (Rostratula australis) (male)
This is a very rare local wader here in Australia - a tough bird to photograph as it tends to skulk around in amongst sticks most of the time.
It was a case of sitting quietly in mud for ages, just waiting for it to creep out in the open. It did creep out just once, so I managed a hundred shots of it in amongst sticks
and just a couple of frames in the clear. I did clone out a couple of twigs in the corner, but at least the bird wasn't obscured!
I was rapt to get an image of this guy - it's not every day you see, let alone get a chance to photograph this rare species.
Thanks for looking, Greg.
Crusoe Reservoir, Feb 2013. D800, 300 2.8, f4.8, 1/1250, ISO200, -1/3EC.
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Greg, I never thought I'd say this but I don't think this is up to your usual immaculate standard. Maybe it was the excitement of getting the shot.
The colours look very harsh to me. It just doesn't have your usual level of fine detail and it seems as though there was quite a bit of sharpening around the head and eye.
Congrats on the capture though.
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Thanks for the feedback Martin, but gee I'm a little bemused by your comments.
There was no extra sharpening at all on the bird - and I would have thought the detail is pretty good! The colours are harsh because this is a harshly coloured bird - maybe I could tone them down a bit, but they are pretty accurate.
Cheers, Greg
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Greg,
I'll re-calibrate my monitor. And maybe my eyes too.
Where was the FP? Was it the head or the wing?
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Great to have it in the open like this, Greg. Your patience paid dividend. Excellent detail and texture.
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Forum Participant
nice capture,sharp with nice detail.
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Wonderful shot of a fabulous looking bird! Well done!
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BPN Member
Great bird. Congrats on catching a rarity, and out in the open to boot. I'll have to admit that before reading Martin's post and your response, I had the same initial reaction: that maybe the focus point was on the flank, and there was a little extra sharpening on the head to compensate. I guess I'll have to recalibrate as well.
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Lifetime Member
A big congrats on getting this rare bird. I don't think I have seen this bird posted before.
I have to agree with Martin and Bill as well. I thought the head was a bit off before I read anyone else's comments.
But some imperfections can always be allowed with a rare bird!
Nice low POV and striding pose and I like the slightly cocked head.
Gail
Last edited by gail bisson; 09-19-2013 at 10:18 AM.
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Lifetime Member
Hi Greg, I must be honest, I cant see what the others are seeing, and Ive had a long day at work. Super pose out in the open, and I feel the detail is all there. If anything, I would try a version with a touch of reduced contrast on the snipe only.
Congrats on getting this rare species.
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I'm on an iPad so no calibration, but the first thing I saw was that there seems to be a tiny bit of unsharp movement just in the eye.
other than that I love this image and think maybe the bright blue sky is taking a bit away from the birds immaculate colors and the colors in the bottom FG.
softening or burning the blue sky might lend better to all the other colors and give better perspective on the head and eye.
congrats, and I envy the time taken to get this, kudos to you
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Greg,
Agree with you, very difficult to shoot, rarely comes in the open. This superb image, nice pose,colors and composition.
Regards,
Satish.
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