Boat-Billed Heron

[Doug Brown]

Apologies for my general absence from BPN of late! Life gets in the way every now and then. Here's a Boat-Billed Heron from my Costa Rica workshop. These are nocturnal birds; thus those huge eyes. They generally seem to avoid the good light, and fill flash doesn't work because they get the worst case of red-eye you've ever seen! This is probably the best look I've ever gotten at this species.



Canon 1D Mark IV, 500mm + 1.4x, f/5.6, 1/30, ISO 640, +2/3 EC, tripod

[denise ippolito]

Doug, Very nice sharp details and eye. I like the composition and the BG.

[Tony Whitehead]

Great feather textures, Doug. Looks like a juvi with those downy feathers on the head and that looks like a serious parasite or insect passenger on the back of it's head.

[Doug Brown]

that looks like a serious parasite or insect passenger on the back of it's head.

Good eye Tony!

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Doug, good portrait, and love the sharp detail. As Ive only seen these guys on this site, their bills really amaze me. Aptly named I suppose.

[Morkel Erasmus]

awesome portrait of a bird I've never seen - good details and gorgeous eyes...good to see a post from you again Doug, I know the feeling :)

[Herb Houghton]

Great shot Doug. Thanks for the info on the red eye. I have tried the fill flash on these birds with poor results, redeye wise. I like all of the feather detail in this one.

[Greg Basco]

Hey, Doug. Nice portrait of this guy. I'm disappointed you resorted to a tripod though -- you should be able to handhold at 1/30 second :) Your tech specs mention fill-flash. Did you use a little flash and then clean up the eye? I agree that fill-flash is tough for these guys so I'm just curious. That was a fun day around the lagoon with these guys.

Cheers,
Greg

[Katie Rupp]

Hi Doug,

You know this one is a favorite of mine and as usual, you hit a home run. It's all there: Exposure, sharpness, composition and a gorgeous bg; I love how it pops off the page.

[Hendri Venter]

Such cracking sharp detail. Fantastic portrait Doug.

[Doug Brown]

No fill flash was used Greg. And I'm pumping iron now for next year's workshop! I'm shooting for sharp at 1/15 hand held! :p

[Arthur Morris]

Agree with all the positives above. The feathers of the folded wing could use some selective sharpening via a contrast mask.

[Michael Zajac]

I like the sharpness and the crop. The bill looks great. I can't wait to see one of these in person.

[Greg Basco]

Good, Doug. Because I plan on going only to the darkest places for bird photography!

Cheers,
Greg