I haven't shared an image in this Forum for some time now, been burning to do so but I needed something new:) Here's a recent image taken in the Kruger National Park ( South Africa), a small crop as the subject got fairly close to the vehicle. I was amazed to notice the vivid colours on the males of the species, versus the dull colouring of the females. The sun was quite harsh as we encountered those birds foraging around lunch time but I did my best under the circumstances - let me know what you think?
Processed in LR and PPCC, adj. exposure, levels, curves, some burn and dodge and later sharpening for web.
I wish for just a tad more SS, but especially DOF (for the end of the beak) but the subjects were moving fast and HA changed so quickly, still happy to have something to share even though it's not as perfect as I would like it to be. This was taken while vehicle was in motion, one of those "stolen moments" you take home and hope it works out, a bit unfair to my partner Andre who was driving - he was unable to shoot but helped me grab a couple of extra frames when the birds got very close - thank you Andre
Nikon D4
Nikon 500 mm F4
ISO 400
F 6.3
1/800s
Kind regards,
Last edited by Gabriela Plesea; 10-11-2015 at 04:58 PM.
Hi Gabriela - I love how you tell me you got no good images and then post one like this. Excellent portrait. You handled the harsh light well. The eyelashes are fantastic. Well done.
Indeed Christopher this chap needs some sun protection, LOL. Karl, this is not quite as sharp as I would like it to be, especially at the end of the bill. These birds forage on the ground and move fast, constantly changing head position as the look around. As soon as they see something they grab it and throw it in the air, only to catch it so skilfully. One of these boys caught a big lizard at some stage and I was so annoyed because he was thrashing it about behind a bush and I could not shoot.:)At the time of this sighting a few vehicles were parked nearby and we could not reposition for a better angle. Luckily most of the people got bored quickly, when they realised we were not looking at lions or cheetah they all departed, giving us a bit of space to move around.
Rachel, when we go to the Kalahari we come back with thousands of images: mice, birds, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, snakes, badgers, jackals, etc. I felt "poor" when back from Kruger. I might have a few here and there worth processing, but nowhere near as many species as I am used to. I am searching through my folders still, let us see if I can still surprise you with something:)
Thank you, you are all so kind with your comments and I truly appreciate it.
Hi Gaby, great HA from a subject that is always on the move, and most times for me, walking away from me. Excellent exposure, sharp, and you have brought out the detail on the beak so well. Love the OOF grasses. Well captured.
Lovely looking portrait Gabriela. The details and colour are awesome. The subject looks real good against the BG. I really love those eye lashes. Well done. Very good work.
Excellent image.
I think the sharpness is excellent.
The DOF is excellent and I would not worry at all about the tip of the bill.
Reds and blacks look great.
gail
Great close up Gabriela! I like the HA, BG, details, exposure and composition. You handled the harsh light skillfully. The eyelashes on these birds are over the top!
Your kind comments are so humbling... you are now tempting me to come back with more:)
Stu - it is true, those birds are always walking away from us! This was an exception, and the only time ever I felt I was too close and wished for more distance between them and my lens:) They all walked towards the vehicle and I decided to get some close ups instead of grabbing the 300. I am trying to keep my cameras/lenses dust free so no equipment lying on the back seat, D3S/300 in its bag so no time to unzip and change, also was trying to avoid the tarred road in the frame...
Again - many thanks to you all, always a pleasure to visit the Avian Forum
Hi Gabriela, lovely HA for me and the BKG really sets it off and provides good separation. this is just such an awesome subject to photograph and I feel you have portrayed it very well, great to get so close.
Think you could have pushed the techs just a fraction more, but wonder if the blacks could just do with a a slight tweak to add more impact.
Of course I should have pushed those techs! More SS needed here, and 7.1 or more would have made a big difference. Unfortunately, as the birds moved about the HA changed constantly. The lighting conditions also changed. It was all too fast for me. I am thinking this was one instance I should have shot auto ISO. Something I almost never do, with some exceptions - like bokkies running, or a Lanner Falcon flying at the speed of lightning around a waterhole in the KTP trying to grab a dove (you should hear the sound as he flies past the vehicle, LOL)
I do have some other frames you will probably like more, at times it all worked out well. But none this close...Let me see if I can share another one at the week-end:)
Much appreciated, Steve. Was afraid to tweak the blacks further but I'll give it a try - I trust your thinking
Ground Hornbill
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TFS.
Excellent exposure, sharp, and you have brought out the detail on the beak so well. Love the OOF grasses. Well captured.
