Active Perch

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Captured this unusual either friends or the Hamerkop was trying to make friends in a water filled pan in Botswana last month. The Hamerkop initially landed or tried to land on the hippo's head, but would have to abort the touchdown as the hippo submerged. I'll post that encounter later. I know it's a rather large perch, but in a lot of instances you have to take what you can get. C&C welcome.

D500, Sigma 150-600mm C @ 600mm, 1/2500s, f 8.0, HH, ISO 1250.


Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

[Jerrold Matthews]

What a great capture!
Jerry

[Dorian Anderson]

That guy is braver than me! This is a really fun shot. It's basically a Hamerkop with bonus hippo - a very rare combo!

[Isaac Grant]

This is super cool Geoffrey. Super cool. I mean this is for sure, the best perch that has been posted on BPN since I have been a member. Don't think it is even close. Screams Africa. Hamerkops and Hadeda Ibis were the only 2 species that I saw every day on my trip to southern Africa. You got this one really well with the raised wings and that fantastic "perch".

I did the following as everything looked a little thin and a bit bright.

Lowered brightness -3
Add +3 blacks and reduced mid tone to 95 in leves
Used the NIK 25/25 recipe on the bird and hippo.
In Viveza I reduced brightness -1 and added 3 points warmth to the bird and hippo
Then only on the water reduced the midtones and added some more black again in levels.
Ran NR on water and bird separately as I introduced noise from my changes
Smart shaprened at .5 and 110

Subtle and very minor changes but I think they make a large impact on the photo.

[William Dickson]

Love this Geoffrey. You should also post this on the Wildlife Page. Isaac's repost has brought out more detail and sharpness. I don't know what I like the best. The hippo or the bird. Very well captured. Good work.

Will

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

This is definitely nice perch. I agree with the comments. I don't what I like the most Hippo or the Bird

Thanks for sharing.

[Alex Becker]

Really cool image and I like how the hippo and bird are facing different directions. Isaac's RP helped with detail. The motion in the water is really cool. Looks like it was a great trip for you guys. TFS

[Geoffrey Montagu]

This is super cool Geoffrey. Super cool. I mean this is for sure, the best perch that has been posted on BPN since I have been a member. Don't think it is even close. Screams Africa. Hamerkops and Hadeda Ibis were the only 2 species that I saw every day on my trip to southern Africa. You got this one really well with the raised wings and that fantastic "perch".

I did the following as everything looked a little thin and a bit bright.

Lowered brightness -3
Add +3 blacks and reduced mid tone to 95 in leves
Used the NIK 25/25 recipe on the bird and hippo.
In Viveza I reduced brightness -1 and added 3 points warmth to the bird and hippo
Then only on the water reduced the midtones and added some more black again in levels.
Ran NR on water and bird separately as I introduced noise from my changes
Smart shaprened at .5 and 110

Subtle and very minor changes but I think they make a large impact on the photo.

Thanks Isaac. I liked the perch as well. Nice subtle changes in your repost. The water especially looks closer to the way it looked in person. Thanks for taking the time on the repost.

Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu