Too serious

Gallery: AvianPosted April 27, 201086 views7 comments

I went through some old, previously neglected, files the other day and decided this one 'deserved' to be processed after all. Looking at the techs now, I have no idea why I did not stop down for more DOF and maybe my dissatisfaction with the shallow DOF was what stopped me from selecting it the first time.

I would love to hear your opinions.

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)
Khutse Game Reserve, Kalahari, Botswana.
Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Shutter Speed 1/2000 Sec.
Aperture Value f/6.3
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM
HH
app 75% of original

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 27, 2010 at 1:06 PM

A really fun image, Vincent. I wish we had one with the larger dof to compare. I'm rather ambivalent about it. The fact that the tip of the beak is out of focus seems to accentuate the "in-your-face' feel of the image.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 28, 2010 at 12:31 AM

It certainly different; it gives you an unusual sense of the size of the bill.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on April 28, 2010 at 12:33 AM

The expression is fantastic. I think the shallow DOF might be working for you to accentuate it.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on April 28, 2010 at 9:07 AM

Wow! That really is a shallow DOF, or the bird was really close to you. Knowing these birds, they almost sit on your palm, so this must have been close.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on April 28, 2010 at 9:45 AM

Love the details in the bird and the eye contact. I do find the OOF bill just a little distracting.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Ross on April 29, 2010 at 7:51 AM

Nice one Vincent, great comical pose, I think it works as is, you'd have to stop down a lot to get the tip in focus I think.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 29, 2010 at 8:53 PM

Nice to see you post on this gallery as I really like your images. I love the detail that you did get especially the eyes but... Sorry not a fan of the shallow dof, I think. Then I look again and I'm not sure sooo. I think I'd prefer more dof but still like the super clear eyes that I'm drawn to because of the shallow dof. So, I'm confused too.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments