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Thread: Bee-eater

  1. #1
    Roberto Betta
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    Default Bee-eater

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    I managed to photograph his Bee-eater on a recent trip to Botswana alongside the Chobe River off a Safari Boat. Being amongst other tourists I did find it a lot more difficult to photograph as time per subject is limited and Game Rangers seldom position themselves in accordance with the sun. I did manage a few shots unfortunately though with the boat moving and all, virtually all of them turned out very soft. In order to achieve the two toned background I had to stand at the highest point, blue being the Chobe River and green the reeds. Later that day I purposely skipped my Game Drive (included in safari the package) in order to go out on the River again as I had organized a solo two hour tour (kindly given to me for free) to re-photograph the Bee-eaters but the weather turned for the worst and I managed not a single shot. Later that day everyone on the Game Drive mentioned seeing Lion. :( Thanks for looking, much appreciated!


    Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
    Lens: Canon 600mm f/4L IS USM and Canon 1.4x II Extender
    Focal Length: 840mm
    Program: Aperture Priority
    Aperture: f/6.3
    ISO: 200
    Shutter Speed: 1/1250
    Exposure Compensation: 0
    Support: Manfrotto 680B Monopod
    Last edited by Roberto Betta; 04-22-2010 at 02:03 PM.

  2. #2
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    cracking details here Roberto (and a belated welcome to BPN!)
    lovely exposure, sharp face and colours. were you very close? DOF seems quite shallow for such a small bird :)

    it also looks like there might be a slight shadow/highlight halo around the bird?
    Morkel Erasmus

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  3. #3
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
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    Hi Roberto, Welcome and thanks a ton for your membership support. Despite tough condition, tough light, and a less than perfect perch you have created a loverly image here. Killer bird. The head angle works perfectly with the off-angled light. Sharp, sharp, sharp. I can't wait to see some more.
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  4. #4
    Roberto Betta
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    Thanks Morkel and Arthur, sincerely appreciated.

    Morkel, this was very close to Full Frame. The Guide maneuvered to boat a little too close to the pirch which I wish he hadnt as the very few frames of the entire bird I have are almost all soft. The Halo around the bird I agree with, perhaps due to working with shadows and highlights. I will do re-edit and repost. Thanks again.

  5. #5
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    I like this shot a lot. The head details and angle are sweet. A shame about missing the tail portion of the bird, but the sharp head portrait makes up for it. :)

  6. #6
    Roberto Betta
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    Thanks Herb, much appreciated.

    Unfortunately the Game Ranger approached a little too fast towards the pirch in order for me to get the entire bird in. I also recently found out the name of the bird, a Blue-Cheeked Bee-eater, googled it and found out it's quite rare around the area I was so yea, I'm pretty uptight I never managed to photograph the entire bird. :( Thanks again! :)

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