Roseate SpoonBILL

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm on Tuesday May 6, 2014 at 8:17am in early morning sunlight. I used the Gitzo 3532 LS carbon fiber tripod, the Mongoose M3.6 head, the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens, the Canon Extender EF 2X III, and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop as framed: 1/250 sec. at f/9 in Av mode. AWB.

Central Sensor/AI Servo-Expand/Rear Focus AF as framed active at the moment of exposure. Learn everything there is to know about the 1D X and 5D III AF systems including how to manage the various AF Area Selection Modes, when to use which one, and several ways to move the AF sensor around in the 1D X AF Guide and the5D Mark III User’s Guide. Click here to see the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version. .

Fill flash with Better Beamer at -2 stops in ETTL. Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT with the Canon CP-E4 Compact Battery Pack for faster re-charging times. Wimberley F-1 Flash Bracket with the Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3.

To learn more about this image and what is going on at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm click here.

As for the image, don't be shy. All comments are welcome.

Why d you think that I went to ISO 800 even though the sun was out?

[gail bisson]

Nice comp and lines. Excellent exposure and image design. Love the colors.
I wish for even more DOF on this image to get the feathers in the LLC nice and sharp (although I do realize the DOF is incredibly narrow with the 600 and 2X !) Or perhaps the active sensor should have been on the tip of the bill so that the feathers were tack sharp and the top of the bill would be a little bit outside the narrow field of focus??

Gail

[Arthur Morris]

AF was necessarily active at the moment of exposure as the bird was actively preening. About 3/5 of the way down the bill. Remember that you have only central sensor Expand with this set-up. And, it's a pretty big bird. Depth-of-field with the set-up above is less than 1/4 inch... Getting the feathers sharp is a pipe dream :). Nuf said.

[Marina Scarr]

Loved this image from the moment I saw it b/c it's quite unique. The green BG complements well and you acquired super details in the beak.

Why a camera shoe cord with the 600 flash? It was my understanding that a cord was not necessary with this flash.

[Grace Scalzo]

Wonderful new and creative way to photograph this sujbect. Nicely seen and executed.

[Daniel Cadieux]

This is a fantastic and memorable image Artie. If there is one way to exclude the eye from the face and have a successful bird image this would be it! I love the comp with the perfect placement of the bill, and a subtle detail that I really appreciate is the darker greens mixed in the BG in ULC.

I think your question should ready why you went to ISO 800?

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Artie, certainly a different perspective and image design, and I like it lots. I really like the curvature of the bill, together with the pink feathers.

[Arthur Morris]

Loved this image from the moment I saw it b/c it's quite unique. The green BG complements well and you acquired super details in the beak.

Why a camera shoe cord with the 600 flash? It was my understanding that a cord was not necessary with this flash.

Thanks Marina. I use a flash bracket and the cord to get the flash away from the axis of the lens to avoid or at least reduce flash eye, purple eye, steel eye, and the rest. I do not do any of the radio stuff if that makes sense.

[Arthur Morris]

This is a fantastic and memorable image Artie. If there is one way to exclude the eye from the face and have a successful bird image this would be it! I love the comp with the perfect placement of the bill, and a subtle detail that I really appreciate is the darker greens mixed in the BG in ULC.

I think your question should ready why you went to ISO 800?

Thanks on all counts Dan. Yes to ISO 800. When I first published the blog my typo read ISO 8,000 so at least I was getting closer. I corrected it :)

[MiroslavMaric]

Nice and very interesting close up. Like the colors too. I guess the flash helped a lot to get this result and ISO800 with above setting helps to get light background. Cheers! Miro

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Mirostav :). The flash evened out the lighting a bit. The ISO 800 did not effect that BKGR at all. That is done by the relative exposure compensation, in this case the +1 stop....

ps: thanks a stack for your membership support!

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Artie, this image is just classy! Superb image design, masterfully executed by you and very ARTY :-) Great work Sir! We salute you! I bought the 2X III for my 500 II and am liking it very much. Have posted a few images recently with that. TFS.
Regards
Sanjeev

[vishaljadhav]

Impressive image Arthur Bhai,
Every time we hear of the eye being in focus and this image is beautiful even without a eye.

[Andy Shepherd]

A very different and well thought out image, Arthur.

[Karl Egressy]

One of a kind image for sure. I love it. Nicely done.

[Iain Barker]

Love this Artie. Your abstract image really make me think about how images can be done differently. My guess on the ISO 800 is so that you could get to f9 to get some DOF at such close focus and keep a reasonable SS.

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent closeup, almost like a macro of the bill which is made of many layers!

[David Salem]

I really like tight creative comps like this. Nice detail and color in this cool looking shot. Great vision executed.

[Arthur Morris]

Love this Artie. Your abstract image really make me think about how images can be done differently. My guess on the ISO 800 is so that you could get to f9 to get some DOF at such close focus and keep a reasonable SS.

Correct. f/9 is only stopped down one click, i.e., 1/3 stop as wide open is f/8. But as the bird was actively preening I needed the extra stop of shutter speed to freeze the movement.

Well done. And thanks all for their kind words. I love this one too. :)