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Chloephaga poliocephala (Ashy headed goose)
Nature is really beautiful and this becomes more evident than ever when you are amongst animals kept under the right conditions. Even when the animals do nothing at all, as the sleeping goose in this photo, you can still admire their symmetry, the colour and pattern of their feathers, their shape. The goose was sleeping next to the pond enjoying the sunny day in mid January. Since the sun was already low I liked the warm colour of the light but I had to use the flash in i-TTL mode to fill in the shadows in the back half of the body. I like this photo because I can see that it "preserved" that moment in time. Needless to say, the goose didn't mind my presence at all - which is as important to me as taking the photo.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec, f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted, saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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Leptoptilos crumeniferum (Marabu stork)
A close up of a bird with the sun behind it always poses a problem and needs a fill in flash. The grey color of this bird made things even more difficult.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec, f/9.5, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted, saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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Ciconia nigra (Black stork)
One of the very few birds which stood almost still for a long time allowing me to take a good number of shots. Again, the use of a fill in flash was mandatory to get some detail at the dark side. A really rare bird.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/125 sec, f/9.5, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted, saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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Phoenicopterus ruber (Greater Flamingo)
Flamingo are gracious birds which always get the attention of visitors. If you spend some time looking at them you will admire their harmony and delicate moves as they enjoy their pond. No matter how many pictures you take you will rarely find two of them doing the same thing. Sun was high in the sky so the natural light was an adversity. Some underexposure added "life" in this picture.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/350 sec, f/9.5, Aperture priority mode
Flash: no flash used
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted, saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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Sarcoramphus papa (Family: Cathartidae; common name: King Vulture or King Jan Kro)
During our visit to the Sao Paulo zoo with Ken, we came across this gorgeous bird which was placed in a cage with very small openings. Taking a photo from a distance was impossible since the metal would show in the final picture, something which would be further enhanced by the use of flash. Under these circumstances, there is only one thing you can do. Stick the lens on the fence and take the photo. With a long macro lens as the one used for this photo, the wires will not show, if the animal is located even a meter away.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/125 sec - f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode with plastic dome.
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized.
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Falco biarmicus (Family: Falconidae; common name: Lanner Falcon)
A really difficult shot since the bird was resting very close to the front of its cage and usually they don't like to stand there for long. I decided to use the long end of the lens and hope for the best. The bright sunshine allowed a high shutter speed of 1/500 sec so I didn't even have to worry about the VR function. To increase the impact of the shot I chose a lower angle, which gives this picture a more natural appearance - as if the bird was resting on some branch in the wild. After viewing the picture on my monitor I was happy to see that the neat lines and the alert look of this bird of pray were nicely captured.
Our thanks to the members of Bird forum for helping us identify this bird.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor AF-S VR 80-400mm 1:4.5-5.6 D @ 400mm
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/500 sec, f/9.5, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted, saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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Hawk
One of the birds which make you feel sorry when you see them in captivity. When you see those proud eyes you immediately understand that the position of this bird is high in the sky and not being an exhibition bird. However, we have to admit that if the zoos didn't preserve and breed them, we would hardly see any of them anymore. I would prefer not to see that tree behind the bird but as with all shots presented in this section by me, editing has been kept to a minimum.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Nikkor AF 80-200 mm f/2.8 ED D @ 200 mm.
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/2000 sec, f/3.2 Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized.
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Rea americana
Those two large birds had been walking together for some time when I saw them approaching each other again. I took five shots in rapid sequence and chose this one which reveals a human-like feeling of affection. Large birds like Rea americana (and ostrich) are easier to shoot since they move slowly and are less unpredictable than small birds. An additional advantage is their size which makes focusing a child's play.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/500 sec, f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: RAW, converted in Photoshop CS, sharpening and contrast adjusted, saved in JPEG, levels adjusted, cropped + USM added. |
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Psilopogon pyrolophus (Family: Ramphastidae; common name: Fire tufted Barbet )
A lovely and curious bird which has been very well acclimatized with people. Taking a nice picture is quite difficult because of its rather small size and the fact that is is usually on the move.
Our thanks to Mark Harper and the members of Bird forum for helping us identify this beautiful bird.
Photo by George J. Reclos
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec - f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: saturation and levels adjusted in PS CS, USM added. |
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Streptopelia decaocto
One morning I walked outside the house, and saw these two doves creating a nesting place in a thick Hedera hibernica that covered an electricity pole at the other side of the road. Shooting this dove in flight was a bit of a coincidence as all camera settings were perfect without checking them first.
Photo by Frank Panis
Shooting Data:
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8D IF-ED
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/1500 sec - f/2.8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: none
Image: RAW, converted in Nikon CNX 2.1.0 |
