Ground Hornbill feeding

[Stu Bowie]

Ive just returned from 5 days in our Kruger National Park. Unfortunately, the weather was overcast with patches of rain the whole time, so very disappointing with regards to good light. We came across 3 Ground Hornbills feeding alongside the roadway. I managed to capture this one getting hold of a small grasshopper, tossing it up and swallowing it. I realise there is motion blur with the movement of the bill, due to a slow shutter speed.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300mm F/2.8 ( given to me for the use of the trip )
1/800
F/7.1
ISO 500 ( dont ask me why so low )

Exp comp 0

[Greg Oakley]

Super timing on this Stu - and what an absolutely cracking species!! Love the dopey, "whatever" expression!
Cheers, Greg

[christopher galeski]

nice one Stuart,good timing,both you and the bird,the motion blur does not bother me to much,some nice detail in the feathers and neck.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Exposure is excellent, the detail in the feathers is superb. Just a hint of less than perfect action stopping but a fine image non the less.

[Emanuel Tiberi]

Just amazing! sharpness, details,etc. I don't mind the motion blur

[Girish Prahalad]

love the action here. the motion blur does not detract too much. plenty of details on rest of the bird.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent moment you have captured here, Stuart Sir. Love the sleepy eye.

Regards,
Satish.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Just wished for better light.

[shane shacaluga]

Very very nice! The feather detail and the details on the red are superb

Dont mind the minimum blur at all

Any idea what it was eating?

TFS!

[Stu Bowie]

Any idea what it was eating?

Thanks Shane. It is a small grasshopper. They normally walk through the grasslands looking for any small rodents, snakes, picking at elephant dung, looking for bugs. I have seen them eating a tortoise. That bill cracks right through a tortoise shell.

[shane shacaluga]

wow, did not realise they could do that! Thanks for the info ;)

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Awesome species, Stu and you couldn't have timed this any better. Love your comp and the excellent exposure. Blacks are perfect with killer detail. Love the bored expression.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Thanks Shane. It is a small grasshopper. They normally walk through the grasslands looking for any small rodents, snakes, picking at elephant dung, looking for bugs. I have seen them eating a tortoise. That bill cracks right through a tortoise shell.

Funny that some people never read!

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Very fine species, bold red color and I don't mind the motion blur at all, light seems ok from my end and the semi closed eyelid makes the image for me.

[Karl Egressy]

Superb portrait shot with action, Stuart. The motion blur if any, is not bad at all. Great work Stuart.

[gail bisson]

I really like this Stuart. It is so difficult to get a clear shot of these birds.
Love the details in the blacks and the mid-air grasshopper.
Reds look great as well.
I am OK with the motion blur but this would have been a 10/ 10 if the bill had been sharp.
Gail

[Jim Crosswell]

Well timed image Stuart! I like the details in the neck, grasshopper, setting and BG.

[Andre Pretorius]

What attracts me the thumbnail image is the reds- they are exactly as I remember them.
Nice detail on black plumage, love the eye contact!

The bill not sharp, Stuart I know how you feel...

Did well to get one of them still and in the open, trying to shoot them normally is accompanied with harsh language...

[Richard Flack]

Awesome, awesome image Stuart. Well done