Scarlet Macaw

Gallery: AvianPosted January 29, 2014136 views18 comments

We had some nice encounters with Scarlet Macaws on our recent trip to the Amazonian part of Ecuador. This was taken at the Yasuni National Park parrot clay lick. He was too close - a nice problem to have - so I cut the tail. But this was my favorite pose due to the nice view of the backside plumage and the partially open beak. He was only this close to us for a few moments and I didn't have time to rotate to vertical.

My 5D3 took on too much rain and started malfunctioning during the trip so I was stuck using the 7D in lowlight conditions. I had heard that if you shot on medium raw (10 megapixels rather 18) the noise was much less and I found that to be true with this image and many others. So if you are shooting in low light conditions and you don't have to crop much this seems to be a good option with the 7D.

Canon 7D 500F4 1/125 F5.6, iso 800, Gitzo tripod

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 29, 2014 at 9:18 PM

Amazing how vibrant the macaw's feather colors are. Wonderful detail in the larger image and I like the look from the macaw, well done Nate.

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

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on January 29, 2014 at 10:14 PM

Very nice. I just long for the rest of the tail. Good information on the 7D and noise. I have a 7D and I struggle with noise at high ISO's.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 30, 2014 at 6:53 AM

I have that medium raw option every time I shoot Nate

I like the parted beak, neat pose too..
Wow colors that pop off this BG, sharp details

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on January 30, 2014 at 9:35 AM

The colors are great and so is the excellent detail. The cropped tail doesn't bother me. Nice job making the most of a brief opportunity.

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on January 30, 2014 at 9:44 AM

Hello Nate

Very Colourful Guy.... Sharp & excellent Detail where it matters.

Too bad about the missing Tail feathers:(

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on January 30, 2014 at 12:08 PM

Beautiful colors, great detail, and I like the expression on his face.

Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 30, 2014 at 7:09 PM

Sweet color and detail. These are hard to get all of in a vertical, up close!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 30, 2014 at 7:34 PM

gorgeous bird, and great details, Nate. I'll have to experiment with that setting. The missing tail feathers are too bad, but I still like this a lot as posted.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 30, 2014 at 7:52 PM

Nice crisp image and no significant noise, Nate. Did you apply some noise reduction afterwards, or were these the results from the camera? I never paid any attention to that option, but I'll have to consider it here in the dark NW

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 30, 2014 at 9:52 PM

Great colors and love the detail in the face Nate. BTW...great tip for those who own a 7D.

Sorry to hear about your 5D though..hope you have it insured.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on January 30, 2014 at 9:56 PM

Thanks for your comments everyone.

Dennis, I did use a little noise reduction during raw conversion in acr but I didn't apply any nr in photoshop.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 31, 2014 at 8:06 AM

Great back side view of this beauty Nate, sharp details. This has a nice feel for the habitat too.

Sweet Photo

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 31, 2014 at 10:14 AM

I'm wondering if an even tighter crop on the bird's face would be better and help me not miss the rest of the tail feathers in this image? Colors and setting are really nice, and I especially appreciate the details on the face. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 31, 2014 at 6:41 PM

Hi Nate

Stunning color and very good detail and pose.... thanks for sharing an amazing bird with us..

Albert Darmo
Canada

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 31, 2014 at 9:18 PM

Fantastic detail and a nice setting Nate

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on February 1, 2014 at 9:23 AM

Really impressive colors and detail, nice one Nate!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on February 1, 2014 at 11:36 PM

Wonderful pose Nate. Lovely colours. Did you get a chance for a vertical?
It looks good, but the cut tail for me would be less noticeable if there were foliage covering it.

Registered on April 24, 2004, 25 Posts, 510 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 2, 2014 at 1:22 PM

Thanks for your comments everyone. Akos, I didn't have time to rotate to vertical while the macaw was in this position. I do have some verticals but he is perched with his body partially behind the tree instead of in front of it. I tried a closer crop but I didn't like it and went with this one.

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