Swamphen portrait

[Gerhard Weldhagen]

This image was created yesterday afternoon at my local wetland while taking the 1DX II for its maiden voyage. Three purple swamphens walked closely past my concealed position and I managed to grab a few quick portrait frames before they departed wildly due to the sudden burst of shutter noise! The lack of digital noise however definitely makes up for the noisy shutter at full speed.

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, EF600mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III, 1/800, f5.6, ISO 640, prone position, Atlas bipod, DPP4 / CS6, cropped for composition. Comments welcome.

[Ritesh Nangare]

Beautiful portrait of Hen..... Love the details in black and the bright red eye and beak pop out of the frame very well ....

TFS....

[Daniel Cadieux]

First of all, congratulations on the new camera! I love the massive bill, and the matching colour with the eye. The quality of the light is good, the angle not as much...the swamphen needed to turn its head a few degrees towards us to get that light to splash it face. Good luck with the new gear, looking forward to more from it!

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gerhard, big congrats on your new toy, and it seems like you have the hang of it already. Excellent detail on the bill, and love the red eye. As mentioned, the light angle isnt ideal, but still pops from the smooth BG.

[gail bisson]

Beautiful IQ.
Agree about the HA.
Lots of nice details for the eye to explore.
Gail

[christopher galeski]

Agree nice IQ,good BG,TFS.