Fit for the Royal Mint?

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Fit for the Royal Mint?
Photo Information
Copyright: Callie de Wet (Callie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 106 N: 2657] (7477)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-07-23
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 120-300 F2.8
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Barbets of SA [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-07-27 10:30
Viewed: 1644
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is just a tongue-in-cheek title, because it reminds me of the profiles of the earlier Kings on the coins of the various countries & civilisations - a bit haughty, but with very sharp detail. Before independence from Britain in 1961, our coins carried the profiles from Victoria to Elizabeth. This is the last post of our intrepid barbet. Of all the nature photography that I do, I love mug shots the most, as it reveals so much more about the animal or bird. It is also the most difficult to get, because you need to “fall over the animal” to get this near. Because I wear multifocals & my sight is not what it was 30 years ago, even with the glasses, I use the focus indicator in the viewfinder to tell me when I am in focus – the real surprise always comes when I open the image in PS. Here, he was sitting in front of the fruit, & I could capture just the top of his chest upwards. It shows his colouring the best of the 4 pictures, IMO. Notice the juice drop on his bill, something I could not see through the lens! I love this bird – he is cute, has an attitude, is fun to watch, is never still and always colourful. I hope you enjoyed this little series as much as I did in finally nailing him after trying for a very long time. . Shot in Krugersdorp Private Game Reserve in the aviary; ISO 200; Nikon D70; Sigma 120-300 F2.8 lens and 2X converter; 1/250 @ F8 @ -0,7 EV; Aperture Mode; no flash, just late sunlight; Pattern Metering Mode; Manfrotto Tripod and Wimberley head; little cropping; bit of USM and Hue & saturation brightness; reduced to Site size. Focal length 600 mm. All comments welcomed and appreciated.
Eagle78, carper, AndyB, Robbrown, jhm, gerhardt, japie, nwoehnl, Esox, mogens-j, elihesam, Comandante, annagrace, Betty, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To avigur_11: ThanksCallie 2 07-31 14:21
To mogens-j: WSCallie 1 07-29 14:28
To AndyB: ThanksCallie 1 07-27 13:20
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Critiques [Translate]

I can see why you love it Callie! Capturing these kind of animals may be a hard work..now, capturing them and get a compo where you can have tremendous DOF, a not distracting background, beautiful details and stunning colors, in order to get a portrait style.. is only a feature from the true professionals! And you do it so naturally..congrats Callie :)

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2165 W: 124 N: 2567] (8208)
  • [2004-07-27 10:53]

What a coloursful head again Callie.
Good capture, Good composition and ofcaurse a perfect note. very good job Callie

Very good use of the DOF, nice focus, this is a good picture !

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1593 W: 32 N: 1363] (3978)
  • [2004-07-27 11:31]
  • [+]

Fabulous colours and detail(especially the juice drop!),great DoF.
A very majestic looking bird and a great capture.
Very well done.

A very stiking portrate shot callie, such poise and a beak covered in dinner, nice one to add to the set.

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 661 W: 0 N: 176] (620)
  • [2004-07-27 13:56]

Hi Callie, what a colourful bird, excellent cropped, lovely background! Great note again.

Daily when I look at your photos I think this one is very good, and the next day you impress me with better stuff. The detail and mug shot composition of this photo is an example I will put to future use. Thanx so much for sharing.

This chap is just an unbelievably photogenic one. Again the supreme details and colors on the head, and the drop of juice on the beak is indeed a great detail. Great capture, Callie.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1996 W: 107 N: 1897] (5103)
  • [2004-07-27 15:43]

I have a breeding pair at the back of my property and your series enspired me to spend more time with them (so watch this space). I like the droplet on his beak. Wonderful as usual.

  • Great 
  • Esox Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 287 W: 27 N: 352] (948)
  • [2004-07-27 16:59]

A great shot.
Amazing details with good DOF and composition.
Good work.

Didn't you tell him this was for a portrait and give him time to freshen up before taking the shot - don't think he'll like getting front page with an untidy appearance like this ;-))
Great capture with good details and sharpness + nice oof background.

Nice profile of this - by know;-) - familiar bird. Well, he is still looking good to my so I just enjoy the pictures. Like the others great colours and very well blurred background. Though I would crop of a little of the top - I made a little WS to show what I mean, hope you don't mind.

Amazing,Callie!
Great details,attractive colors,and perfet DOF & composition,Thanks!

Nice to see you here, Callie. It looks like a great stage to your wildlife photography.
This bird do has a charchter. THe "hair" and the serious expressionmakes it very special. I like this one.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2309 W: 324 N: 4312] (16848)
  • [2004-12-13 21:21]

Callie, as usual, another great shot.

Nice pose, composition, sharpness and so on...

Let me ask you: how do you get such out of focus BGs that work so well?

Best regards.

Lívio

Hi Callie
Good capture
Good composition
Great note

T.F.S...

Cant stop starring at this beauty!

Wonderful profile of a very funny looking bird. Great detail, especially on the face. Well seen!

Alli

Excellent portrait of one of my favourite garden birds, the colours are stunning!
Well done
Peter

Hi Callie,
Miss your posts here.
A real "blast from the past" my old friend :)
"Fit for the Royal Mint" works prefectly, love the late afternoon light.
Have a great Sunday,
Howard

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