Red-billed Hornbill

[Charles Jorgensen]

This is one of my favourite birds. I managed to capture this walking to my chalet in Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana. Would appreciate any feedback. Canon 5d mkiii, EF 70-300L, 300mm, 1/3200 sec @ f5.6 iso320

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Charles, I always look out for these guys on my Kruger trips. I like your point of focus here, spot on where it should be. He seems to be missing a few eye lashes, but no big deal. I like the colours of the BG too. You must have been pretty close, as you couldnt achieve much DOF, but as I mentioned, the focus point is spot on.

[Marina Scarr]

Super portrait, and your background (BG) really showcases your bird and has almost a vignetting effect. My only wish is that the bird's beak had not been angled slightly more toward the viewer. It appears as though the bird may have been turned away ever so slightly. A powerful portrait for sure!

[Daniel Cadieux]

I always enjoy seeing pictures of this species, and this one is no exception. Sharp where it needs to...yes, more dof would have been good on the subject but this would have also affected the BG which is already starting to have hard edges on some of the lines. A better head angle would have been super - and would have brought the bill more into dof range. Super colours both on the subject and in the BG. Well balanced crop.

[gail bisson]

I love these "chili pepper" birds. Zazu would be proud of this portrait!
Agree totally with all the above comments so will not repeat them.
I think I would have tried F 9 or 10 to get the bill tip in focus and then dealt with softening the BG in PP. I don't really think an increase in aperture would affect the BG all that much as we are talking .5 cm at the most for increase in DOF.
Did you have time to play with different settings?
Gail

[Enrique Patino]

i really like this bird.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I think I would have tried F 9 or 10 to get the bill tip in focus and then dealt with softening the BG in PP. I don't really think an increase in aperture would affect the BG all that much as we are talking .5 cm at the most for increase in DOF.
Did you have time to play with different settings?
Gail

Hi Gail, for sure it would affect the BG too. The stronger lines would become even stronger and distracting. See this post that captain James had posted a while ago to demonstrate what I mean (check out pane #8 for a side-by side comparision):

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...and-Background