Horned Screamer

[Geoffrey Montagu]

I captured this image after the sun had set in a marsh at the end of a blackwater tributary not far from the Peruvian Amazon. We had cut the engines on the skiff and I did my best with the 500mm mounted on a monopod. At this point I was getting used to the monopod in combination with the fairly stable skiff. These birds inhabit the lowlands from Columbia and Venezuela to Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador to Guyana, basically the northern half of South America east of the Andes. C&C welcome.

D4S, Nikon 500mm+1.4 tc, 1/500s, f 5.6, ISO 3200, Monopod.


Geoffrey

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Geoff, now here is a species Ive never seen before - I cant make out if its a cross between a pheasant and a raptor with those large legs and talons. Great eye contact, and well exposed on the dark plumage. Just love that single 'feather' on the head. Looks like you were battling for light, and unfortunately a bit of noise is visible.

Im really interested in how this fellow is made up - origin?

[arash_hazeghi]

the bird is gorgeous, the perch, not so much. I agree with Stu, the IQ has suffered quite a bit here. The BG looks blotchy and posterized and the bird has lost his detail to heavy noise reduction. Given the camera you were using I believe most of this is coming from post processing.

TFS

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I thought your post title was just made up until I googled the bird. LOL

Stu, for you mate

Agree that it appears your processing had let you down. Otherwise, this could be a relatively good image. The comp is OK I only wish the perch were not in a position to obscure the feet. Though you were in a boat, so had to do the best without probably controlling the boat itself.

Nice!

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Hi Geoff, now here is a species Ive never seen before - I cant make out if its a cross between a pheasant and a raptor with those large legs and talons. Great eye contact, and well exposed on the dark plumage. Just love that single 'feather' on the head. Looks like you were battling for light, and unfortunately a bit of noise is visible.

Im really interested in how this fellow is made up - origin?

Thanks Stu. Yes I was battling for light, thus had to apply quite a bit of noise reduction, and as Arash pointed out the feather detail has suffered. I use Nik Dfine 2. It's is a great looking bird. Think I some images of them in better light.

Geoffrey

[Karl Egressy]

Nice image as is. It might benefit from warming it up a bit.

[Bill Dix]

Nice pose. I like the glowing eyes, and the fact that you captured his "antenna". Above comments noted, but good capture considering the very tough conditions.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Thanks Everyone. Forgot to mention this is a lifer for me.




Geoffrey