Toucan Barbet

Gallery: AvianPosted January 19, 2012396 views18 comments

I thought I would get an image up from the tours I have been leading in Ecaudor. This species, which is unique in it´s genus is threatened due to destruction of forests in it´s native Northwest Ecuador and Southwest Colombia (Choco bioregion). This bird was photographed at Sachatamia Lodge where I put up a large fallen branch between 2 feeders which were stocked with bananas. We had up to 3 barbets in at a time, giving us many nice opportunities. I added some fill flash to brighten up the damp, misty conditions. Although it looks wet, we were shooting from a covered porch. Full frame except for a crop from the top, about 80% of the original image.

7D 500mmF4 1/200 F6.3, iso 400, evaluative metering -0.3, 580ex fill flash at -1.7, Feisol tripod, chair

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 19, 2012 at 1:22 PM

cool bird, Nate. nice dof and I love the rain and the little drops on the bird. I might take a little off the bottom (or clone a little) to remove the white at the bottom of the frame.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 19, 2012 at 2:48 PM

This a wonderful detailed image of this threatened species Nate.
I like your comp and the light rain falling through. Lovely color combinations on the bird, a real treat for the eye.
Techs look very good, but I might suggest a very slight bump in contrast, just a thought.
Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on January 19, 2012 at 4:39 PM

Good stuff. I agree a little "beefing up " might help.
Still a nice shot though.
JR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 19, 2012 at 4:45 PM

A very cool looking bird Nate. Love the mist streaking in the BG. Like this as posted.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on January 19, 2012 at 5:16 PM

Excellent sharpness and detail on this cool looking bird. I also like the perch and the BG with the falling rain. I also like all the tiny little rain drops you can see on him in the large version.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 19, 2012 at 5:20 PM

Great subject presented very well in spite of the conditions.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 19, 2012 at 5:25 PM

Nate- a gorgeous bird beautifully captured. What an incredible color palette!

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 19, 2012 at 5:57 PM

Great capture, Nate. Awesome bird !
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 19, 2012 at 9:06 PM

Nice soft fill light and I like the rain in the bg. cool perch too

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 19, 2012 at 9:10 PM

I agree about a small bump in contrast, but it's nice to see one of these birds in such a clean setting and in decent light. Good one!

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 19, 2012 at 9:59 PM

Amazing how many colors some birds can have, nice job in getting this shot under the weather conditions you were dealing with. I like the composition and seeing the rain drops in the background, way to go Nate.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 20, 2012 at 4:16 AM

A beauty Nate

Especially enjoy those rain drops, excellent detail, pose and great perch.

A side note from here, I've got ten inches of snow in my yard and their expecting a ice storm to follow

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Butch Lama on January 20, 2012 at 11:56 AM

Beautiful colors of the Barbet, love the rain in clean BG & the droplets adds a nice depth to this amazing shot.

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on January 20, 2012 at 4:55 PM

Nate, such a beautiful bird with an excellent pose. In the large version you can see the mist drops on the bird and in the sky. To me that's such a wonderful part of the image and I hope people are taking a look at the large photo. The only suggestion I have is that it may need a little more contrast.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on January 20, 2012 at 6:10 PM

Gorgeous image Nate. Cool looking bird.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on January 20, 2012 at 7:44 PM

Beautiful bird, Nate. Love the tiny droplets of water beading on his feathers.

I definitely need to take one of your Ecuador workshops. (I absolutely loved the country - the Ecuadorians were so incredibly pleasant, even-tempered and polite to each other and visitors. Very refreshing, and quite a difference from other countries I've visited both in S.Amer. and Europe. Made the trip really wonderful.)

I would consider cloning out the white at the bottom, as Brian mentioned.

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on January 20, 2012 at 8:32 PM

Thanks for all your comments!

With respect to contrast I had already boosted the original post slightly in post processing with a small S curves adjustment. This was a low contrast scene with rain and mist, so I wanted the image to reflect somewhat the conditions of the day while at the same time showing off the bird.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 20, 2012 at 10:53 PM

Hi Nate

What an incredible bird! You captured the bird and the misty scene wonderfully well

Albert Darmo

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments