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Blue-winged Mtn Tanager
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Blue-winged Mtn Tanager

by Nate Chappell

Gallery: AvianPosted January 26, 2010358 views21 comments
That´s Blue-winged Mountain Tanager too long of a name for our titles! This was taken earlier during our current Ecuador trip at Sachatamia Lodge in Ecuador. There was a banana feeder out in the open that a couple of species were coming to. I didn´t have a lot of time to set up perches and wait for the birds to become accustomed to them so what I did was find a large log which took up most of the space on the feeder and place it on top of the feeder. I then placed the bananas at the base of the log, figuring the birds would land on top of the log first. The plan worked out in terms of getting some images, in this image the bird landed near the cut off edge of the log which isn´t ideal but it is the best of this species for the trip.

The light was challenging here as part of the bird was in sun and part in shade. I used a mixture of fill flash and reduced exposure comp to try and balance the lighting. Full frame.

MkIII 500F4 1.4X 1/300 F8, iso 400, evaluative metering -0.7, 580ex flash at -2.3, Gitzo tripod.


Comments

21 comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 26, 2010 at 9:41 AM
A beautiful bird Nate - I love those blues. I like the profile view of the tanager and the setting in general. The end of the log doesn't look "cut" to my eye and seems just fine for me. Well done.
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on January 26, 2010 at 10:25 AM
What a beautiful bird, Nate! It's a wonderful image to show it off, too! Must go one day!
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 26, 2010 at 10:33 AM
Nate,

The end of the log looks like a natural break to me, not cut, so I wouldn't be at all concerned about that. The pose is quite lovely and the colors of this species are delightful. Nice work on the fill flash & ev compensation.

It is indeed a beautiful bird.
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Sandipan Dutta on January 26, 2010 at 10:41 AM
What colors!!! Superbly executed :toast:
Registered on March 9, 2009, 171 Posts, 493 Comments
Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on January 26, 2010 at 11:09 AM
I always look forward to your images, Nate!
The preperation and execution of the shot always come through exquisitly.
Well Done, as usual!
Neil
Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Wilson on January 26, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Excellent job Nate! Thats a smart looking bird and the end of the log looks fine to me.
Registered on May 17, 2006, 70 Posts, 1166 Comments
Comment posted by Laura Stafford on January 26, 2010 at 11:20 AM
This photo is amazing. The colors, the detail and the Tanager's pose. Nature is astounding, and you did a marvelous job of capturing it.

Laura Stafford
Registered on November 3, 2009, 52 Posts, 375 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 26, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Great work with the exposure here Nate. What a stunning bird :toast:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 26, 2010 at 1:15 PM
This is a nice setting Nate. Looks very natural to me. I like the varied light in this image as it adds interest IMO. The bird is stunning and I think your use of flash and exposure worked well here.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 26, 2010 at 2:10 PM
Really pretty bird. When I looked at the thumbnail I thought is was a Euphonia of some sort. Love the pose. You did well with the really contrasty light.
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Bryan Hix on January 26, 2010 at 2:42 PM
Very cool bird Nate. I am searching though 700 images from my trip, so I know what you mean by getting the best shot for a species even though it isn't ideal. Nice job though. I love the coloration. I would just wish for a better HA. Ecuador sounds great. :toast:
Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 26, 2010 at 3:00 PM
The perch works for me, Nate. With that blue and yellow, this is a tough exposure, and it looks like you pulled it off. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Sally King on January 26, 2010 at 3:10 PM
I think the environment looks quite natural and I love how the light brings out the yellows and blues in this incredible bird. I quite like the greenery behind the bird too.
Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on January 26, 2010 at 4:17 PM
Great shot! Incredible subject, perfect light and composition.

D&L
Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Dubois on January 26, 2010 at 8:38 PM
So this is what they mean when they talk about glorious technicolor! What an eye-popping bird. Nice shot Nate.
Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments
Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 26, 2010 at 9:28 PM
The lighting is beautiful Another great example of fill flash use. Beautiful colors and details
Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Olsen on January 26, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Now that's an image to make a person want to go to Equador!
Beautiful capture and excellent use of the flash.
:toast:
Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 26, 2010 at 11:41 PM
Simply fantastic, Nate. I need to get back there. :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 27, 2010 at 2:39 AM
Amazing bird and colour rendering. Sharp too.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 27, 2010 at 3:51 AM
Amazing colours and detail Nate - I'm loving these.

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 27, 2010 at 3:59 AM
SM:eek: :eek:KING shot of a beautiful bird Nate!!! Excellent fill work!

Ken Archer
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments