Red-billed Tropicbirds

Gallery: AvianPosted March 13, 2014262 views17 comments

We were lucky enough to witness a few courtship flights of this species at Little Tobago Island on our Trinidad and Tobago trip. There most have been several hundred of this species flying around the area, quite a spectacle. A tough exposure against the darker bg and a bit backlit but I think it worked out.

Canon 5D3 500F4 1/1600 F5.6, iso 1000, manual exposure, handheld

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on March 13, 2014 at 8:21 PM

I don't think the exposure could be any better. The birds really pop from the dark background. Great detail and sharpness. I saw several Tropicbirds when we were in Hawaii, but none in any position to get a shot.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 13, 2014 at 10:54 PM

Nicely handled. The exposure looks fine as does the detail in the larger view.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on March 14, 2014 at 12:12 AM

Nate,
The exposure worked out just great. The white against the dark green backdrop is what really makes these birds stand out so well.. Great view of the top side of both birds. That tail is incredible. Super capture.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 14, 2014 at 4:12 AM

Awesome birds captured beautifully Nate

I think the back-light works perfect in this situation.

Sweet Photo!!!

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

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 14, 2014 at 4:29 AM

Exposure is spot on Nate. The birds show off very well against the dark BG.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on March 14, 2014 at 7:52 AM

Hello Nate

As Ken has said...SWEET!:)

Well done handling the difficult circumstances, well exposed and both sharp. The background lighting is great.

Did you do in camera exposure adjustment for this capture?

Thanks for sharing

Bill

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 14, 2014 at 12:22 PM

Thanks for your comments everyone. Bill, I used a manual exposure for this shot taken by metering off light green grass which was in the same lighting as the birds and then dialing in negative compensation to account for the whites.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 14, 2014 at 12:41 PM

Very nice capture Nate. Great job getting both so sharp in the frame and great job on the exposure with the dark BG.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on March 14, 2014 at 2:30 PM

Excellent to get them both in the same plane of focus, Nate. Wonderful image

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 14, 2014 at 3:16 PM

Wonderful job in getting this flight shot and I like the contrast, way to go Nate.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 15, 2014 at 7:58 AM

Great framing and detail Nate

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

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 15, 2014 at 10:50 AM

It did indeed work out. Really nice capture of this beautiful species. They really POP!

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 15, 2014 at 11:54 PM

Delightful - I love the composition and position of the two birds to show the long tail steamers, and the placement of them against the dark natural background.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 16, 2014 at 2:17 PM

Mots interesting natural history, and well done getting both birds sharp. The dark background really sets the birds off too.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Marina Scarr on March 16, 2014 at 3:49 PM

Terrific image. Love seeing both in the frame and what an artistic frame this is! The right bird's pose with fanned tail feathers is awesome.

Registered on March 6, 2014, 11 Posts, 104 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 18, 2014 at 10:36 AM

Wonderful 'twofer' Nate, way to go man!

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

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on March 18, 2014 at 11:06 AM

This is lovely!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments