Southern Ground Hornbill

[Hendri Venter]

I captured this Hornbill with its prey in Kruger National Park. They feed on the ground mainly and is almost totally carnivorous eating anything from insects to snakes and even monitor lizards. The bird lays eggs which are white in colour and number between 1 to 2 and the second chick which hatches some 4 or 5 days after the first one always dies from starvation. Some projects are on the go to rescue second chicks as they are endangered partly due to its own breeding habits.

Removed some OOF grass on the BG.

Canon 1D MKIII
Canon 300 F2.8 + 1.4 TC
ISO 400
F8
SS 1/1600
Aperture Priority

Website: www.digitalwild.co.za

[Loukie Viljoen]

Nice one Hendri, I think that little toad has a problem, or shall I say he/she had a problem, blacks well handled they often are only best on an overcast day, you handled this fine IMO.It looks like a mid day shot, overhead sun but well controlled? I had a look at the website, baie mooi.

[Hendri Venter]

Thank you very much oom Loukie. Got this one in mid-day light so I'm happy with the result.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Outstanding for mid day light. Well done. Love the color and details captured. Fine comp. as well.

[Arthur Morris]

Yes, this it too, too good especially considering the harsh light. The BKGR is killer and that toad is, is, is, well, it's lunch I guess. Does anyone know if those diagonal marks are from the nictitating membrane?

In a perfect world the head would be turned another one to two degrees towards us.

[Hendri Venter]

Thanks for the kind comments Joe and Artie.

Does anyone know if those diagonal marks are from the nictitating membrane?

The marks are the shadows of its eye lashes Artie. I'll see if I can find a photo with closed eye to show you how long there eye lashes are.

[Troy Lim]

Very nice shot, killer BG.

[stuart wanuck]

super capture tfs

[Hendri Venter]

Thank you Troy and Stuart.

[allanrube]

Like it a lot - details, colors, background. Added touches are the toad and the hornbill's eyes.

[Hendri Venter]

Just to show the long eye lashes here is a closer crop with it down. Any womans dream.:)

[Tony Whitehead]

Excellent portrait , Hendri. Challenging lighting well managed. Toad really adds interest but the eye with lash shadows really captures the essence of a ground hornbill. The blurred edge to the dirt at the tip of the bill/toad suggests some masking/cloning fine-tuning would be worthwhile. The top of the head has a bit of a "cut out" appearance which may be a related issue.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Hendri and Tony. Eyelash shadows are a first for me!

[Jory Griesman]

Very well done especially for the time of day/harshness. Prey is a bonus. Nice background.

[Ofer Levy]

Fantastic image!!

[Doug Brown]

Nicely done, especially considering the light. The prey certainly makes this image, but the bird looks great too. Agree with Tony that the bird looks a little 'cut out.'

[Stu Bowie]

Superb detail, and tack sharp. Great job with the blacks, and his meal puts this over the top. Killer BG too.

[Morkel Erasmus]

you know I like this one mate - you did VERY well with the light and the detail is just top notch!! the toad takes it over the top...those eyelashes are epic...

[Herb Houghton]

Great shot Hendri. This popped for me from the thumbnail.

[Deborah Harrison]

Great image in tough lighting conditions!

[Craig Brelsford]

Good job in the harsh midday light. I know how hard it is to pack the equipment away when the shadows grow short.

[Hendri Venter]

Thanks you so much for all your kind comments folks. Tony thanks for pointing out the faults. Will have to re-visit the image.:o

[Ken Watkins]

Stupendous shot, those eyelashes are great.

[Hendri Venter]

Thanks a mil Ken.

[Simon Bennett]

Just fabulous Hendi.

[Hendri Venter]

Thank you Simon.