GB Spiderhunter #1

Gallery: AvianPosted March 8, 201184 views9 comments

Canon EOS 7D, EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4x Extender II @ 700mm, AV Priority @ f/7.1 (1/160 sec), ISO 400, Tripod, JPG from RAW

This is the first of the images I wish to share with you from the five days I spent in the wilds of the Taman Negara National Park rainforest, located in the Northern State of Pahang, Malaysia.

Ever since seeing pictures of Spiderhunters in bird identifications books, I dreamed of the chance to find and photograph them out in the wild, and though I had a couple of opportunities while on a trip to Sabah (northern-most state of Malaysian Borneo) back in November, a combination of my slow reactions and their flighty nature produced pretty disappointing photographic results, so I was overjoyed to find another species on this trip, a Grey-Breasted Spiderhunter, and to be presented with another opportunity :^)

Despite much of the photography I attempted in Taman Negara being extremely challenging (due to things like distance from subjects, poor light conditions in the rainforest and, while on the river, a very unstable platform to work from), I did have a number of wonderful opportunities with creatures of habit that were happy enough to keep returning to a particular fruiting or flowering tree, which allowed me the time to set my camera and tripod up in the most favourable position according to the best available light.

I have a several more images of Grey-Breasted Spiderhunters in line to show you, but I'll do so in chronological order mixing in other species I came across along the way.

Critique and comments as always welcome, thanks for taking the time to view :^)

Kind regards,

Ashley

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on March 8, 2011 at 11:26 PM

Well done Ashley, an image of a bird I have never seen. Good exposure and colors. Nice detail. Slight distraction of the twig coming out of the birds head, but considering all a very minor item IMHO. Thanks for sharing and the story, looking forward to seeing more.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 9, 2011 at 12:56 AM

Thanks for your feedback John, much appreciated :^)

Completely agree about the unfortunate twig seemingly popping out of the subject's head ;^. I did try to clone it out, however, I'm still learning my way with PS and I'm apparently a ways off yet from being able to do such work without leaving obvious tell-tale signs behind. Once my PP skills have improved no doubt I'll be revisiting earlier work, at which time I may well give this one another shot ;^)

Thanks again for taking the time to view and comment :^)

Kind regards,

Ashley

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 9, 2011 at 4:52 AM

Lovely shot Ashley; really like the setting and sharpness. I'd be tempted to add a fraction more to the bottom if you have any spare canvas. We'll be there in October - can't wait

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 9, 2011 at 8:03 AM

How cool that you have kept a passion for seeing and photographing this bird for so long. I like the image. That beautiful flower just pops and is so well placed. You might also try another round of sharpening on the birds eye. It's just a little soft.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on March 9, 2011 at 8:39 AM

I love how the bird seems to be coming out of that pretty pink flower. I don't find the limb from the head too distracting at all. Nicely framed too.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 9, 2011 at 11:41 AM

A Spiderhunter that I have not seen - a very nice bird. I'd give the tail a bit more room, if you have it, too. Nice capture!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 9, 2011 at 10:21 PM

Thank you so much Rob, Angela, Sally, and KC for taking the time to view and comment :^)

In line with your observations:

Unfortunately there's nothing more in the frame to allow extra space along the bottom edge, however, there's actually nothing more of the tail to be seen aside from the very tip, which is covered by that leaf.

I was able to re-work the eye though, something I really should have seen myself and thanks for pointing this out to me :^) I sharpened and went over it a little with the Dodge and Burn tools, please let me know if I've gone too far or, hopefully, just enough ;^)

Thanks again and wishing you all a great day or night ahead :^)

Ashley

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 9, 2011 at 10:25 PM

Oops! Forgot to choose the new file ... here ya' go ;^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 9, 2011 at 10:29 PM

For some reason, at this size on the thread I can't seem to see any difference between the eye in the original and the re-worked version below, but blown up there is indeed a remarkable difference. If anyone's interested to see a larger version (unless you have a better suggestion, I'll be happy to email you a copy if you wish :^)

Ashley

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments