Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: The Bagpipe Assassin..

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    Posts
    1,237
    Threads
    135
    Thank You Posts

    Default The Bagpipe Assassin..

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Southern Ground Hornbill...

    These Birds forage in small groups on the ground, where they feed on reptiles, frogs, insects and even small mammals. The bill is used to administer the coup de grace to larger prey.
    Although a fairy large bird - can weigh up to 6kg - it is classified as a vulnerable species (due to loss of habitat).

    Image captured in Kruger, September 2015.
    Nikon D3S with 500f4
    1/1600 @ f6,3
    ISO 1000
    +1/3 EV
    Almost FF, slight crop for comp.
    Image captured in harsh light (11am), but that is the time when they forage...
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,060
    Threads
    144
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Andre, super BG and nice detail captured. Pity about the harsh light but you have handled it well. TFS

  3. Thanks Andre Pretorius thanked for this post
  4. #3
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Andre, Im glad you at least managed to capture some of a side profile, as these guys are always on the move, and never giving one decent HA's. Harsh light as you stated, but the blacks are well exposed. Overall nice and sharp, and nicely separated from the BG.

  5. Thanks Andre Pretorius thanked for this post
  6. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    392
    Threads
    29
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    You gotta' love that title. A nice portrait shot, well exposed for the dark feathers. Love the red/orange color and all the beak detail. Light already mentioned, enough said. TFS.

  7. Thanks Andre Pretorius thanked for this post
  8. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Long Island, New York
    Posts
    6,275
    Threads
    574
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I immeditaly noticed the harsh light but then my eye began studying the image and I ended up not caring about the harshness. Love those eyelashes, details in the reds and well-worn beak. Thanks for posting this image, very enjoyable.

  9. Thanks Andre Pretorius thanked for this post
  10. #6
    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Nova Scotia
    Posts
    12,731
    Threads
    910
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    The harsh light has helped expose the details in the blacks very well so it played in your favor.
    Excellent IQ and love the details in the lashes and bill. I really like the shadow of the lashes on the iris.
    BG looks good as is but you could also do a bit of a gaussian blur ( or in Detail Extractor in Nik EFEX go to tonal contrast and move all the sliders to the left ( to taste)) to smooth BG a bit more.
    Gail

  11. #7
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,549
    Threads
    1,284
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Andre, nice one.

    As I'm away I can't really tell, but if young Stu gives a 'thumbs up' on the overall image, great, as my concerns would be the depth & detail of the black plumage. The BKG looks a bit too smooth, at ISO 1000 you should just leave as is, I may only start to use a hint at 3200. Perhaps you can extract a bit more depth on the bill, you have the right tools?

    I think the omission of the 'kitchen sink' is really helping on the PP, well done. Not sure if I will see these later this month???

    TFS
    Steve

  12. #8
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    Posts
    1,237
    Threads
    135
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Richard, appreciate!
    Thanks Stu, you know how hard it it is to get these guys!
    Thanks John, glad you loved the title- tried to portray how I see them..
    Thanks Grace- you made my day!
    Thanks Gail- will definitely try it on BG!
    Thanks Steve! Lets go with young StuNo noise reduction done on BG, just some D&B on far right to tone down on bright grass stalks. Bill had same D&B treatment, the DOF was a bit tapering at end of bill- decided to enhance sharpness
    with contrast via D&B layer- yes can extract more detail, point taken. I have not done much work on the Plumage of the wing, concentrated more on neck and head- any suggestions? Had to tone down on the bag of the blow pipe, as it was very hot..
    You might see these OR the Kitchen sink where you are going... BTW.. Hope you had a lovely , special day...

    WROTE THIS LAST NIGHT, WAS NEVER POSTED! Thank you auto-save!!!!
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

  13. #9
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,549
    Threads
    1,284
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I have not done much work on the Plumage of the wing, concentrated more on neck and head- any suggestions?
    Hard to say, it's only when I see the RAW after stripping it right back do I know the direction or 'enhancements' I think is required, as I'm viewing on the laptop I feel it would move things more into the swamp rather than onto dry land.

    You might see these OR the Kitchen sink where you are going...
    The 'Kitchen sink' is all in your Apps folder, I doubt unless I get re routed will I have time to swing by and look into your Macs - sadly.

    Yes I did thank you, Mr Canon has made me a happy boy.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics