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Thread: Common Pauraque

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    BPN Member Alan Murphy's Avatar
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    Default Common Pauraque

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    Common Pauraque

    Starr Co, South Texas

    D3, 600, ISO 800, f5.6, 1/250, Flash as main.

    Eye glow removed and catchlight added.

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    IOTY Winner 2010 Chris Kotze's Avatar
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    Super looking species, excellent captured
    Chris Kotze

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    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    What an amazing looking bird and great work on the flash. Love the pose and colors of the bird and environment really work well together.
    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
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    Nice flash work Alanand love those little feet.

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    BPN Viewer Sachin Saraf's Avatar
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    Amazing bird and capture...Lovely light...

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    Excellent image. The wing position, detail and background are superb.
    I am curious, how did you manage to photograph it in flight?

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    BPN Member Alan Murphy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Luis Villablanca View Post
    Excellent image. The wing position, detail and background are superb.
    I am curious, how did you manage to photograph it in flight?
    Hey Luis, thanks for your question.

    While on a South Texas ranch doing workshops, we have an area that is lit up at night by large lights.
    The Pauraques like to feed on the moths that circle the lights, then they land in the open area that is in light.
    My technique is to auto focus on the bird, then switch the lens to manual focus.
    I then raise the lens so the bird is just below and out of the frame. I fire three frames with flash as main.
    Sometimes the bird will take off from the flash and that's when the second frame catches him in flight.
    Some luck is required, but good preperation and planning increases the luck ;-)

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    Just amazing, Alan. You work is simply nonpareil. I have to make it to one of your workshops some day.
    Fantastic pose, exposure and just love those dangling feet.
    Great job adding the catchlight.
    Would just love to see this posted 1024 px wide.
    Many thanks for sharing.

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    Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation, Alan.
    That's indeed good planning.

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    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    Alan,
    I must be missing something. Why did you switch to manual focus?
    Great shot and unbelievable execution,
    Gail

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    BPN Member Alan Murphy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gail bisson View Post
    Alan,
    I must be missing something. Why did you switch to manual focus?
    Great shot and unbelievable execution,
    Gail
    Great question Gail. Since I raised the lens above the bird, it would have lost focus if I was not in manual.
    I was planning on getting the bird as it flew up into the frame, that's why I auto focused first on the bird, switched to manual, then raised the lens.
    Hope that makes sense?

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    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    Aaaah...I understand. Thanks
    Gail

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    That is certainly a unique and excellent image of a Pauraque.

    I fire three frames with flash as main. Sometimes the bird will take off from the flash and that's when the second frame catches him in flight.
    I am new to this forum, so I hesitate to ask this question, but are you using your flash to deliberately startle the bird into flight so you can get this shot? Maybe I misunderstood?

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    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
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    super Alan, not much to say besides enjoying this work of art
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    BPN Member Alan Murphy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Harrison View Post
    That is certainly a unique and excellent image of a Pauraque.



    I am new to this forum, so I hesitate to ask this question, but are you using your flash to deliberately startle the bird into flight so you can get this shot? Maybe I misunderstood?
    Hey Chris, Good question. This species is extremly hard to find during the day. Much easier to find at night, so flash must be used. Occasionally they will jump a couple of feet when the flash fires (not all the time), so I adapted.

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    Alan,

    Makes sense. One interesting thing about Pauraques is that if you know where they roost, they are pretty predictable.
    There is one that roosts on Llano Estero Grande State Park in the valley that is usually easy to find and photograph if you know where to look.
    (http://www.pbase.com/sandboa/image/123562538)

    Of course the result isn't as spectacular as yours!

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    BPN Member Alan Murphy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Harrison View Post
    Alan,

    Makes sense. One interesting thing about Pauraques is that if you know where they roost, they are pretty predictable.
    There is one that roosts on Llano Estero Grande State Park in the valley that is usually easy to find and photograph if you know where to look.
    (http://www.pbase.com/sandboa/image/123562538)

    Of course the result isn't as spectacular as yours!
    Chris, yes I have photographed those birds a few times. As you said, if you don't know where they are roosting, they are tough to find.

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