Occelated Antbird

Gallery: AvianPosted February 18, 2013143 views6 comments

We were on the trail of an army of ants in hopes of locating some birds. The jungle was brutally hot as we set up to capture some images deep in the forest off the main trail. The ant columns were all over my position as I lowered my tripod to about as low as I could-without incurring the disfavor of the locals going about their business-some of which you can see in the frame.

I would have liked a smaller aperture for DOF, but aside from a small sliver of light on the bird's head the light was very poor-so wide open with fill flash was required.

Pipeline Road, Soberania NP, Panama

D3s
500mm f/4 VRII
TC-14E II
SB-900
1/60s @ f/5.6
ISO 1250
1/3 EC
-1.3FEC
Gitzo w/ WimbereyII
75% FF

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 18, 2013 at 5:49 PM

I'm really liking the "worried" look on this birds face... the extreme low angle is a huge bonus. A really great image - particularly considering the low light

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 18, 2013 at 6:02 PM

I think this is excellent as posted. We rarely see low viewpoint shots from the forest like this and it really makes the image intimate and quite successful.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 18, 2013 at 9:21 PM

Excellent, Chuck. Congratulations on finding the ant swarm, and especially on finding this uncommon species. I understand the conditions completely; congratulations on get this great shot.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 19, 2013 at 5:53 AM

Nice one Chuck - I think the dappled light works really well here. What an impressive looking bird

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 19, 2013 at 8:05 AM

I think you did very well for the conditions as you can still see feather patterns and colors, way to go, a very interesting bird that I have never heard of, thanks for posting.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on February 24, 2013 at 9:20 PM

Great work considering the conditions.
May

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