Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Long tailed Widow bird

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default Long tailed Widow bird

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    I posted one of these guys a while back against a sky BG, and said my dream shot would be against a foliage BG. Whilst not the best flight pose, Im taking it until I get a better one. Taken early yesterday morning in overcast conditions at my local reserve close to my house. Its not easy trying to track these guys from a car.

    Canon 1D Mark IV
    Canon 300 F/2.8 +2X TC = 600mm
    1/1000
    F/6.3
    ISO 800

    Exp comp +0.67
    hand held from my car
    Last edited by Stu Bowie; 12-03-2013 at 10:48 AM.

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada
    Posts
    1,058
    Threads
    101
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Super image Steve and what a great looking species. Maybe it's just late but the blacks look like they could be opened up a touch more? WDYT?

    Jamie

  3. #3
    BPN Member vishaljadhav's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Pune , India
    Posts
    1,711
    Threads
    94
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    One of my friend has a image of this guy and told me the story of the bird just goes with the wind
    the black bird with the soft green bg pops out, red and white help it seperate nicely
    The wing open position and that wonderful tail looks good
    Black on the wings look good to me.

  4. #4
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    UK / RSA
    Posts
    407
    Threads
    38
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    great in flight shot Stuart.

    Love the spread of the wings and the tail feathers. the red shoulder patches add a nice bit of colour.
    I like what you've done with the grass; retaining a bit of detail but achieving a lovely soft BG.

  5. #5
    BPN Member Alan Murphy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    2,193
    Threads
    467
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    So cool. Love the size the bird is in the frame.

  6. #6
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Martin Dunn View Post
    I like what you've done with the grass; retaining a bit of detail but achieving a lovely soft BG.
    Thanks Martin. The BG grasses are actually untouched, so no 'softening' done to the upper half of the grasses.

    Thank you everyone else for your feedback.

  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,060
    Threads
    144
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Awesome image Stuart. Love these guys. Well done!

  8. #8
    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Nova Scotia
    Posts
    12,731
    Threads
    910
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I am so happy for you that you got this beauty against grasses. I know you have been trying.
    And even better you got it with your new lens!
    I wonder if you can pull a bit more detail out of the blacks?
    I like the environment very much and the composition as well.
    I could also see a version with the 2 grasses intersecting the body cloned out.
    Well done,
    Gail

  9. #9
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    708
    Threads
    35
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    It is the first time that i see this wonderfull bird. Congratulation to this image

  10. #10
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada
    Posts
    1,058
    Threads
    101
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hey Stuart excuse me from calling you Steve

  11. #11
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Inanely beautiful. Everything flows and the dorsal view is wonderful.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  12. #12
    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Princeton, NJ
    Posts
    12,487
    Threads
    1,892
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice work tracking this guy against the grassy BG. Amazing bird, and beautifully captured.

  13. #13
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Jamie Douglas View Post
    Hey Stuart excuse me from calling you Steve
    No problem Jamie.

  14. #14
    Lifetime Member David Salem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Riverside, CA
    Posts
    6,664
    Threads
    276
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I loved your last one of this species and this one is nice too. Great that you got a non blue BG for him to pose against and the pose is cool too. Well done Stuart and congrats on getting closer to your goal.

  15. #15
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,030
    Threads
    2,606
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Lovely shot Stu - it will take something extra special to top this version! The detail and the shape of the bird is exquisite.

  16. #16
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Pune, Maharashtra, India
    Posts
    7,409
    Threads
    469
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Extremely beautiful flight pose, Stuart Sir.
    Love every in the frame.

    Regards,
    Satish.

  17. #17
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Posts
    1,997
    Threads
    86
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I totally agree with all the compliments offered so far on this beautiful bird image. Love the setting!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics