Little More Unusual

Gallery: AvianPosted October 30, 2011123 views11 comments

Canon EOS 7D, EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4x Extender @ 700mm, Aperture Priority @ f/8 (1/3200 sec), -2/3 EV, ISO 800, Tripod, JPEG from RAW, About 50% of Full Frame

For several months leading up to my trip to South Africa, I took a particular interest in all photos of SA bird species I could find on the internet, and though of course I was also interested in capturing some good shots of perennial favourites - such as Lilac-Breasted Rollers, Hornbills, Fish Eagles, Pied Kingfishers, Pearl-Spotted Owlets, etc. - I was determined to photograph other attractive bird species that I had yet to even see images of but was sure could be found over there.

Pleased to say I found more than a few unusual birds while over there – well, at least they were unusual to me! - and over the next week or two I'll be sharing some of the better shots with you.

The subject you see here is a White-Crested Helmet-Shrike.

Honestly can't recall right now why I'd bumped up my ISO so high (especially seeing as I loath to take it over 400 on the 7D!) although the reason why I underexposed (which of course further increased the shutter speed) was to keep the reflective areas on the bare branch under control by not blowing the highlights.

Critique and comments always welcome.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on October 30, 2011 at 6:09 AM

Wow that eye really grabs my attention -- very nice bird. If it were mine I would take some off the right hand side to get the bird off center -

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 30, 2011 at 8:37 AM

The eye of this bird really grabs you. I like the comp as you have it. TFS

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

Comment posted by Mark Deibert on October 30, 2011 at 9:06 AM

Of course, this is excellent, Ashley...great composition...great subject...and, yes, that eye...like an evil eye watching you. Anyway, another great shot, I look forward to seeing what else you've brought home from South Africa.

Mark

Registered on September 30, 2011, 48 Posts, 125 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on October 30, 2011 at 9:48 AM

Nice one Ashley, and the more interesting since on a first glance I wouldn't put it in the shrike-family... The eye is magnificent ! Well done, cheers, Hans
ps - why the high ISO

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 30, 2011 at 5:01 PM

Very cool bird with excellent detail and exposure. With that high iso, I'm quite sure you were trying for a take off flight shot

I hope you aren't in danger of being flooded out down there.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on November 1, 2011 at 12:36 AM

A very interesting bird, Ashley. I wonder what the evolutionary basis of that eye ring would be? Certainly dramatic. And quite different from the New World Shrikes. Your usual fine techs; looking forward to more of your shots.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on November 1, 2011 at 6:18 AM

Thanks for your comments Scott, John, Mark, Hans, Nate, and Jim :^)

Hans & Nate: Yep, I kinda' suspect I saw this one during one of my long longer periods trying to catch Sunbirds in flight and simply grabbed the opportunity with this one without even thinking about control settings - LOL ;^)

Nate: Fortunately we've been little effected by the floods here in Thailand, as we live about an hour and a half south of Bangkok, though hundreds of thousands of others haven't been nearly so lucky. It was also fortunate for you that you hadn't planned a trip over here this year, as it's going to take at least a month or more for waters to drain away.

As you're probably aware, Bueng Boraphet in Nakon Sawan was already the largest fresh water lake in Thailand, but now it more than 10 times larger in circumference stretching through farmlands, residential areas as well as Nakhon Sawan town itself.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on November 1, 2011 at 2:37 PM

That eye certainly draws you into the image and interesting to hear about some of the names of birds one does not usually see in their local area. Nice job in getting this shot, way to go. Glad to hear you are not affected by the flooding.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on November 2, 2011 at 7:14 AM

Nice work Ashley, that eye makes the image!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on November 3, 2011 at 10:16 PM

Thanks for your comments Jim and Ray :^)

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 4, 2011 at 12:22 AM

Ashley,

I missed this one before, pity about the BG but so typical of the Shrikes, at least you got the bird itself is uncluttered and with a marvelous eye

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments