Sora Rail

Gallery: AvianPosted March 5, 2009527 views19 comments

My first clean good shot of this bird. Myself and some friends have been shooting a couple of these guys the last week or two. Boy are they hard to get close to. I was lucky enough that David Chauvin and myself were shooting the same area last weekend trying to get some shots of these guys when this guy spotted David walking toward the area I was in. The bird then walked right by me trying to run away from David!!! At one point the bird was so close to me that my lens wasn't even focusing.

Thanks a bunch David!!
And yes David this was about the same time I laid in that pile
of Bird Doo Doo....that wasn't funny!!!

30D and 500F4 & 1.4x

ISO 500
F9
1/400
Shooting off a beanbag laying on the ground

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 5, 2009 at 8:43 PM

NIce low angle on this unique bird. The composition is a little difficult but you have to take what you can get -- i'm seeing a little bit of noise which is to be expected @ 500 but I'm just curious if you ran any noise reduction or sharpening.

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on March 5, 2009 at 8:54 PM

The least skulker of the rail family is still a significant skulker. I wish I had something on these guys as nice as this.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments

Comment posted by Jude Haase on March 5, 2009 at 9:04 PM

Luke,,,Yes I did run noise reduction on this image and sharpening was only added in selective areas so I don't think the areas you're seeing with noise have any sharpening on them. Thanks for commenting!

Registered on April 3, 2006, 236 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Rhodus on March 5, 2009 at 9:54 PM

Amazing detail and excellent light. Looks like you took advantage of your first clean chance Jude. Well captured!

Registered on November 16, 2003, 157 Posts, 3326 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on March 5, 2009 at 10:35 PM

Very nice image of the secretive bird. Great detail on the head, beak neck. With all the reeds in this image it really feels nice. This is a very natural setting. I like this very much.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 5, 2009 at 10:37 PM

Perfect sort of shot for this sort of species - clearly visible but still within and surrounded by its habitat. Stunning detail.

cheers Rob

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 5, 2009 at 10:43 PM

I agree completely with Rob's comment that this is perfect for the species. The reeds provide great context without becoming visual distraction and clutter! Great job with the techs!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on March 6, 2009 at 12:14 AM

I dig it. Good lighting, great detail, natural surroundings. Nice job.

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on March 6, 2009 at 1:28 AM

Congratulations Jude on this fine capture of the Sora. I'm too aware of how wary and elusive they are so capturing what some may label a "fair" image is an accomplishment, not to mention the wonderful composition and exposure here. I love the downturned head, detail and colors in this habitat shot.

Well done!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 6, 2009 at 12:20 PM

This is a terrific image, especially for the habitat and composition that captures the real nature of these tiny birds.

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

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 6, 2009 at 2:50 PM

Jude, a corker of a Sora capture. The pose and head turn are great.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on March 6, 2009 at 6:51 PM

Beautiful shot of both the bird and the habitat Jude

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on March 6, 2009 at 8:43 PM

Congrats on getting so close to the open Sora and getting such a wonderful shot on this rare opportunity.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 6, 2009 at 10:50 PM

Very nice capture. I like it! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on March 7, 2009 at 7:34 AM

Perfect. These are such hard birds to get a decent photo of. The comp could't be better. The bird is large enough in the frame to show off it's details yet it still includes it's habitat. I have tried many times to get a decent photo of one but failed. Congrats!!

Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on March 7, 2009 at 5:44 PM

Sweet! The soft overcast light really allowed you to get nice feather detail, even on the underside in the shadows. Love the pose and environment with none of those nasty hot spots that this grass is notorious for.

Great capture!

But it sounds like I did all of the hard work. You just had to lay around and trip the shutter!

Well, you did have to lay in bird cr@p!

And just for the record,,,,,this bird was not disturbed by our presence and never stopped feeding. When it saw me, it simply changed direction and wandered straight past Jude, who was napping at the time. I had to throw a stick to wake him up to get the shot!

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on March 7, 2009 at 8:31 PM

Gorgeous image Jude

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 9, 2009 at 2:51 AM

Wonderful low angle, detail and eye contact, congrats Jude, nice work David.

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

Comment posted by Doug Benner on March 15, 2009 at 8:16 AM

Great capture. Congratulations.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments