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Thread: Open Wide

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Default Open Wide

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    A Saddle-billed Stork showing me his tonsils. I like how we can see to the back of the bill, and how large their throats actually are. No wonder they can swallow large fish. Taken in the Kruger National Park during my recent visit.

    Canon 50D
    100-400 @ 400mm
    1/640
    F/7.1
    ISO 500

    Exp Comp 0
    Hand held from a hide.

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    I like the laughing expression you captured here. The beak and eye are nice and sharp. I would like to see one of these guys one day. Great image Stuat!

  3. #3
    Danny J Brown
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    Stuart,

    The two-tone bill is crazy. It looks like he was feeding in a pond full of red algae or something. I've never seen one of these.....very cool. The eye color is totally new to me.....never seen that color on a bird's eye. Love the open bill, of course and the detail in the blacks is just right. Nice composition of a cartoonish bird.

    DB

  4. #4
    Ken Watkins
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    Stuart,

    Was this taken from the same hide as the other two?

    What a privilege to be able to get so close to this beautiful birds, we have some truly amazing storks over here, I could not chose which is best.

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    Yes, this image nicley demonstrates the huge bill and throat! Good comp, and "happy" pose. I would reduce the blue cast on the shaded part of the plumage and smooth out the pale streak in thwe BG near the lower mandible.

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    This bird has personality! Love the eye and bicolored beak! BG is nice too. A beautiful stork.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Thanks a stack for the feedback guys.

    Ken. Yes, this is from the same hide. Lake Panic near Skukuza. Have you been there?

    Dan. Thanks for pointing out the cast and stripe in the BG. I will have a go at that.

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Stuart:

    What a character, truly a cartoon type dude!
    I am curious where your focus point was. My guess is somewhere along the bill, rather than on the eye, just to get everything sharp with in the focus plain.

    Fun, and well done too!

    Cheers

    Randy

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Stout View Post
    Stuart:

    I am curious where your focus point was.
    Randy
    Thanks Randy. My focus point was in the middle of the top mandible.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    wonderful pose Stu - great sharp detail and what a privilege to get close to what is becoming an endangered bird...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member James Salywoda's Avatar
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    Fantastic pose captured Stuart this is such an awesome bird excellent detail and colors well done.

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    Very colorful bird. Very well captured Stuart.

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    Stuart, I like the pose and the sharp details. The bird does have a lot of character as noted.:)

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Love the expression of the open bill here Stuart, good DOF and sharpness.
    TFS


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    I think the pose and framing are perfect! The light and details captured in the blacks are fantastic.

    Such a beautiful bird.

  16. #16
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    What a superb shot, great colours definition and DOF - well done!

  17. #17
    Ákos Lumnitzer
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    Comp's good bro. I love the open bill pose and that huge yellow eye. Well done! :)

  18. #18
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Thank you all for the kind words. Always appreciated.

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Another fine image of a spectacular bird! Nice to get everything in focus at f/7.1. Agree with above suggestions.
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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Thanks a stack Doug.

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    Killer colors on this one Bhai....

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Thank you Kiranbhai.

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    Stu, I think you made all the right choices here. Do you work for the S. African tourist bureau? You sure are making me want to go to your country! P.S.: I wanted to send you a private message, but your inbox is full.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Thanks Craig.

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