Head First

[Morkel Erasmus]

Here's another one of my images from a recent visit to Zimanga Private Game Reserve in South Africa. It shows a Yellow-fronted Canary doing some bathing. I liked that the eye is still uncovered by the nictitating membrane here, milliseconds before the head is dunked under.

These hides were designed by Bence Mate, 2010 BBC WPY winner, and a few more hides are in progress on the reserve (among which a large mammal hide and a eye-level lagoon hide).

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f6.3 | 1/1600 SS | ISO-2200

I know the square crop won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it suited the image best to me as I processed it.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Morkel this is certainly a cool image, love the bird in this one and the nice golden light. Also as you mention the eye still visible is quite nice.
Also as you mention the square crop is not my favorite but may if you have an image showing more of the habitat could do the trick! :)

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Nicely done, Morkel! I think 'Nose dive' would have been a suitable title too?

Everything nicely frozen at 1/1600s (it still amazes me what ISO's we're getting away with - did you do any NR?)!

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image. Spectacular pose with just enough dip showing beautiful eye and yellow front.
BG colors colors nicely complimenting with bird's colors, nice flash of water.I like the composition too.

Regards,
Satish.

[keith mitchell]

Hi Morkel,square crop is ok by me showing the water droplets and there reflection, great job with no nictitating membrane showing, those hides are certainly producing some smashing images like this one, I also would be interested to know if you used any NR.

Cheers Keith.

[Steve Kaluski]

And this is all through glass is it not Morkel?

[Morkel Erasmus]

Hi Morkel,square crop is ok by me showing the water droplets and there reflection, great job with no nictitating membrane showing, those hides are certainly producing some smashing images like this one, I also would be interested to know if you used any NR.

Cheers Keith.

Hi Keith. I did some standard noise reduction on the background (I never do NR on my subjects).

[Morkel Erasmus]

And this is all through glass is it not Morkel?

Right on Steve. It's a special kind of one-way reflective glass that doesn't seem to affect image sharpness noticably at all - you do lose a full stop of light however.

[Steve Kaluski]

One stop hopefully should not make too much difference, especially with the new cameras theses days & ISO. Will toy with visiting here and PE, but then the decision is on to where thereafter, trying to void lost travelling days. I like the overall colours, but it's the inherent rim of the mirror pool that is the giveaway, nothing you can do sadly. I think the new locations will prove to be the winners in my book.

[Morkel Erasmus]

One stop hopefully should not make too much difference, especially with the new cameras theses days & ISO. Will toy with visiting here and PE, but then the decision is on to where thereafter, trying to void lost travelling days. I like the overall colours, but it's the inherent rim of the mirror pool that is the giveaway, nothing you can do sadly. I think the new locations will prove to be the winners in my book.

Well, to get the fighting action between these canaries sharp you need f8 or higher and 1/2500 or higher, which can be a challenge with 500mm+ lenses at 5m focusing distance, plus losing one stop of light aiming for these settings invariably makes the high ISO haters cringe. It's fine for me of course haha.
The 200-400 should slot in nicely here. Even a 300 f2.8 worked great for action between multiple birds.

The other hides will be amazing - can't wait to return once they are done. Besides that, you can track wild dogs and cheetah on foot and get low angles if you are prepared to lie down in the dirt a bit.

Safari itinerary from here? Not too far a transfer via road to the general Sabi Sands area. Very close to Phinda, Thanda and other Zululand reserves. You can even time it right for turtle hatching season at Rocktail Bay near Kosi Bay!

[Karl Egressy]

Striking action shot, Morkel. Love the low shooting angle, splash and fine details.

[Marina Scarr]

Very fun image, Morkel. Love seeing the face partially submerged and the water drops. Glad the eye is showing. I would personally prefer some off of the bottom.