Crested Cara Cara

[Michael Pancier]

This is a rehab bird located at Flamingo Gardens. Having never seen one so close, their beauty is quite a site.

I shot this though a wire fence. By putting the lens right up to the fence at eye level with the bird coupled with shallow DOF and underexposing the ambient light and using the flash as main light, I managed to make the fence and human elements invisible and get a nice portrait. This was one of my favorite shots of 2007.

EOS 5d w/70-200 2.8L + 1.4x TC II @ 280mm
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 280 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: -1 EV
Flash: 580ex @ +1 EV (I may have had a diffuser on it)

[Jim Neiger]

Hi Mike,

I really like the color, details, and mood of this image. I wish that his dark crest stood out from the bg though.

[Lana Hays]

Michael
The technique certainly worked well to make this image. I like the stately pose but I do wish for a little more light that would separate the crest and the BG.

[Maxis Gamez]

This is a very nice portrait. The dark BG works great!

[Alfred Forns]

Didn't know they had one at the center Mike !!!! Did well eliminating the fence I think you had the diffuser on !!! I like it a lot Mike !!! Big Congrats !!!

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Stunning image Mike and such a stately pose. I think you did very well capturing such an image under very difficult circumstances.

[Fabs Forns]

Very dramatic portrait. A slight curve may help separate the bird from background.
Good job :)

[Christina Evans]

Hi MIke! Beautiful bird indeed and nicely done for the conditions you had.