Burchell's Coucal vs Chameleon (2)

[Morkel Erasmus]

This is a follow-up to my previous post:
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=43123

At this stage the Coucal was starting to look like winning the battle - but just as he pried the chameleon's tail loose the foot shot out and grabbed another branch - one tough prey! The tree they were in made good exposure and separation from the surroundings very tricky, so I blurred some of the surroundings selectively. I know now that I should've stopped down to f4.5-5.6 to create less DOF but I was so excited with the sighting that I left my lens on my preferred setting of f8.

I like that both predator and prey have eye contact here - look how the chameleon looks up at the coucal as if to plead for its life...

Your comments and critiques MOST welcome...

Techs:
Canon 1000D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 220mm
f8.0 @ 1/200 SS @ ISO-200

[Gene Potter]

A unique capture to be sure, but a bit cluttered with the foreground and background leaves and branches.

[Tony Whitehead]

Great behavioural image. Light and environment make it challenging. Fill flash may have helped reduce contrast between the light and shade. Not sure that a wider aperture would have helped much as you would have lost some DOF on the subjects. Thanks for sharing this event.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

WEll done seeing this Morkel. Love the action. You could probably do a bit of work and remove the stick across the Coucal's head - maybe even the chameleon's? Congrats mate, you did well in bad light!

[Brian Barcelos]

Very cool behavioral image. You kind of feel bad for the chameleon struggling for life and limb. Foreground and BG are unfortunate but that is where they live. Love the chameleons eye. Congrats

Brian

[Bryan Hix]

The action is pretty cool. The environment is really busy, too bad he couldn't have done this on a fence post. :)

[Harshad Barve]

Lovely action captured here Morkel
TFS

[Arno Ellmer]

Great recording of a piece of natural history , Morkel . Thanks for sharing !

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for your feedback everyone.

@ Tony - I actually used fill flash on this shot, but seeing as I still only have my pop-up flash at my disposal the light didn't carry :(

@ Akos - have thought of that, just didn't have the time or patience yet, will give it a go.

[Loukie Viljoen]

Morkel this is a newsworthy event, but far too cluttered as they say the proverbial
"fruit salad"

[Dave Barnes]

Fantastic sighting/moment well worth capturing but it is far too busy and the light not great. Thanks for sharing.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Loukie and Dave.

I will however keep this until something like this happens 5ft from me again and in a wide open space ;) :D

[Kiran Poonacha]

Nice moment captured Morkel, congrats...

[Stu Bowie]

You have done extremely well to have spotted this. Certainly a great sighting. To get a shot of a coucal is a feat on its own, and to get a coucal and a chameleon, well, you have outdone yourself. Well done.

[Chris Kotze]

As I said before. Great sighting and story and thanks for sharing this

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for taking time to view and comment Kiran, Stu & Chris :)