Camo #1: Lesser Nighthawk

[Bill Dix]

I'm amazed at how well a bird's plumage can sometimes be a perfect match for its surroundings. Here's the first in a 3-part series, this one a Lesser Nighthawk from Costa Rica. When his head was tucked in and eyes closed, he was virtually indistinguishable from his perch.

D7000 | 80-400 VR @ 400mm | ISO 640 | 1/1600s @ f/6.3 | +0.3 EV

[Doug Brown]

The image does a good job of demonstrating the incredible camouflage of the bird's plumage. I've spent months in Costa Rica but have never seen one, probably for this reason. I might sharpen just a little more.

[Ofer Levy]

Very nice image. Maybe a bit off the top.

[Bill Dix]

The image does a good job of demonstrating the incredible camouflage of the bird's plumage. I've spent months in Costa Rica but have never seen one, probably for this reason. I might sharpen just a little more.

I was amazed when our guide pointed this guy out (I think it was actually one of the farm hands at La Ensenada that first spotted it). I'll try a little more USM; I'm afraid it looks to me as if the focus point may have been on the branch rather than the head.

[James Salywoda]

Excellent shot Bill it really shows how these guys blend in to the surroundings.

[Melissa Groo]

What a wonderful shot, Bill. I'd be tempted to try it as more of a pano, try cropping some off the top as Ofer suggests.

[John Guastella]

Interesting shot from a wildlife biology perspective. But the image is dominated by the BG and the perch.

John

[Stu Bowie]

Bill, good capture showing off the camouflaged plumage. If this were mine, I might be tempted to crop up from the bottom to the bottom of the perch, and take quite a bit off the top. ( more of a pano crop to suit the pose )

[Bill Dix]

Thank you all for the helpful comments. I agree that a pano crop will help. Stu's suggestion of cropping up to the perch is an interesting idea that hadn't occurred to me; I'll give it a try.

[Jim Crosswell]

Nice image Bill! I have never found one in the day time. I would like to see a repost with the pano crop.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks Jim. Here's a repost incorporating everyones crop suggestions, along the lines of Stuart's heavy pano crop idea. Also a little more USM. It does make for a better image this way. I appreciate all the comments.

[Jim Crosswell]

Repost looks great Bill!