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Thread: southern cassowary

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    Default southern cassowary

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    In the forest looking for frogs, had a very brief encounter with a southern cassowary. In FNQ they say be cass-o-wary because these things can be dangerous, that 5" center talon is strong, and they are not afraid to use it. Trying to set exposure quickly in the dark forest I probably had the fill flash too strong, you see the water drops on the fur-like feathers, and the shadow of the head. I need to find a clearing where I might get better light, but these solitary creatures don't hang around long. The most vivid impact seeing one of these is how bright the head is, really stands out in the dark forest. But all he/she has to do is walk away and it is a black blob.
    188mm, 1/160, f9, ISO 3200, fill flash 0.

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    BPN Member Dorian Anderson's Avatar
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    Such a great bird! So stoked you had a zoom lens with you., my 600 would have been useless! I saw these in Queensland a few years back. Wonderful look at bird and habitat!

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    Exposure could be better, image quality could be better, surroundings could be better but WHO CARES! Awesome bird. Very hard to get a nice photo of. I also saw them in Australia at the Cassowary House. They were out of the forest and in the open walking around with babies. No camera back then but a memory I will never forget. This brings back fond memories.

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    Must have been an amazing encounter, what a bird! Nice to see some of the habitat in the shot. As you pointed out yourself the image quality could be better but well done anyway. I hope you get another chance under better circumstances!

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    Crazy looking bird. That blue is really something. Very neat to see.

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    Thanks all for the comments - glad you appreciate this as I hoped, a really cool nature encounter, even if not a great image in the pure sense.
    I only moved to this region recently and this was my first encounter. I will be working to get a lot better - finding creek crossings near fruit trees, looking for evidence of scat and footprints prints, then setting up wait. It may take months or years, but will be fun.

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    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    You did great in extremely difficult conditions.

    with love, artie
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