African Gray Hornbill

Gallery: AvianPosted July 12, 2014288 views13 comments

Etosha Park, Namibia
2014:05:03
Next in the series of different hornbills of Africa
I just LOVE these guys - such gorky-looking birds!

D800
500mm
1/200 sec, f/6.3
Mode: Av
Metering: Spot
Exp comp: +1
ISO: 800
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Bill Berry on July 12, 2014 at 1:28 PM

Very, very nice. The background and perch are super. Great detail. Well done!!

Registered on June 20, 2014, 17 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 12, 2014 at 2:37 PM

Very nice as presented. Interesting understated harmonious colors, good background, nice detail.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 12, 2014 at 3:55 PM

great bird--nice comp and perch too. there seems to be some posterization and perhaps other artifacts in the bg of the larger version--did you do some work on the bg?

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 12, 2014 at 4:17 PM

Excellent, Sandy. Great pose and perch and the eye really pops. Africa seems to produce a lot of really photogenic perches. I do see the posterization that Brian mentions.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 12, 2014 at 4:35 PM

I usually run some NR on backgrounds, and did here too.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 12, 2014 at 7:37 PM

No nits, Sandy. You are really cooking with your African photos! I envy you the opportunity.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on July 12, 2014 at 9:34 PM

Very nice image. One of my favorites of your Africa series. The background colors are very nice. I do see the issue that Brian/Dennis noted. Looks like some jpeg compression problems. Guessing it doesn't show up in the original.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Todd Bauer on July 12, 2014 at 10:51 PM

I love your stuff and am not your equal. But I don't think that you need to +1 stuff. If you disagree...disregard.

Registered on May 28, 2014, 50 Posts, 176 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 13, 2014 at 12:08 AM

Todd, probably not sometimes, but I try to check the histogram and adjust accordingly so I'm shooting at least a little to the right. The light in Africa is just a nightmare, also.
All comments and suggestions are always most welcome!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on July 13, 2014 at 5:44 AM

Sandy,
Marvelous capture of by the standards of other Hornbills a relatively dull bird

But nevertheless a real beauty

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on July 13, 2014 at 10:33 AM

Beautiful, Sandy. Looks like you really took advantage of the opportunities that you had over there.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on July 13, 2014 at 11:21 AM

One of your best shots for me. Wonderful look at the feather detail. Great eye contact and the perch is killer. My only very small nit would be to selectively darken the bird only. Great image nonetheless.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on July 14, 2014 at 11:59 AM

super capture Sandy. Not the most colourful hornbill but the whole image works really well with the subtle shades combining beautifully. Great detail too.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments