Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Common Potoo (Ecuador)

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Victoria, BC
    Posts
    1,662
    Threads
    441
    Thank You Posts

    Default Common Potoo (Ecuador)

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    I was really excited to find this fellow sitting out on his branch during my second Ecuador Workshop. Although I had seen Potoos on several occasions this was the first time I found one that was in a good setting for photography. Potoos roost completely still during the day so I was able to slap on a 2x converter and manually focus.

    These nocturnal birds sure do have a lot of confidence in their camouflage don't they!

    Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D
    Shutter speed: 1/100 sec
    Aperture: 8
    Exposure compensation: -1/3
    ISO: 200
    Focal length: 1000mm (500mm + 2x)

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Shanghai, China
    Posts
    1,076
    Threads
    129
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    A potoo on a perch that good is a gift, and you used it well. I'm assuming that you used the teleconverter because you weren't wanting to get too close to the bird. If that's the case, note that in The Life of Birds Attenborough walked right up to one, and the bird in response offered a second pose.

  3. #3
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    14,112
    Threads
    820
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Glenn:

    Nice sharpness at that focal length. Interesting perch. The bird almost seems to mold itself around the perch with its tail.

    I might consider toning down the BG highlights just a bit to help keep our attention on the bird.

    Cheers

    Randy

  4. #4
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Tucked up nice and cosy, and I like how the tail hangs down on the perch. I do like the multi coloured BG. This guy is very similar to our night-jar.

  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale
    Posts
    456
    Threads
    41
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I would have placed the bird a little more to the right instead of in the middle as she looks out of the frame. With the bird looking right at you a central composition would be my preference. Nice integration with the perch.

  6. #6
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,015
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hey who needs the series 111 converter? This looks pretty darned good to me, I don't mind the central position but I think if ir were slightly off centre it would look a bit better.

  7. #7
    BPN Viewer Pieter de Waal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Swaziland, Southern Africa
    Posts
    1,677
    Threads
    91
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Amazing image, it took me a few takes to figure out the pose. Agree with toning down the highlights in the BG. TFS.

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    South Texas
    Posts
    332
    Threads
    22
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like the composition as is, bird doesn't look centered to me.

  9. #9
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Mumbai , India
    Posts
    1,300
    Threads
    139
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    A very good reason for their confidence too . The bird just looks likes an extension of the perch . Agree with the point of composition , else an awesome catch with the 2X TC on !!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics