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Wide Open


Wide Open
Photo Information
Copyright: Murali Santhanam (smurali) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 206 W: 14 N: 552] (3244)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Pentax *ist DL, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-02 13:18
Viewed: 518
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Friends,

Myself and Goutham had been to Naguvanahalli again. By the time we reached Naguvanahalli, there were already two teams of photographers from Mysore with professional looking hides taking pictures of this beautiful bird. They left soon after we arrived. Now-a-days the days are very hot and the water in the Cauvery river is very tempting. However the desire to capture these beautiful bird was beyond all these.

We went about setting our hide near one of the nests where we found the blue tailed bee eaters returning with food very often. Goutham applied his engineering mind to design a hide using some plastic channels used for wiring, some branches of sticks from trees, hide cloth, some stones, safety pins and pieces of rope. We hoped that the hide would at least last till evening.

We entered the nest with some bottles of water and waited for the bee eaters to get used to the nest. Soon enough a pair of bee eaters started arriving at the nest every 30 minutes, every time with some insect in their mouth. They used to sit on a stone to watch around and then disappear into the nest. At the rate at which they were feeding their chicks they must be having a dozen chicks in the nest. This usually is not the case. The chicks eat a lot.

After a few rounds, we decided to set up a perch at the stone the bee eaters used to sit and to our surprise, the birds now started sitting on the perch than on the stone. This gave us lots of opportunities to shoot pictures.

After some time, to get a closer view, I moved my tripod and the camera outside the tent and closer to the perch. I then had the lens manually focused on the perch, composed the scene without the bird, covered the camera and lens with Goutham's cap and attached my self-made cable release. Then I came into the hide and waited along with Goutham for the birds to arrive. Sure enough the birds did not seem to worry about the tripod or my camera. I started taking pictures using the cable release without a visual confirmation of the pictures taken.

This is one such picture taken when the Bee eater was landing on the perch. The picture shows details of the wings, eyes of the bee eater and the prey in its beak. The bottom wings are clipped making it less attractive than otherwise. There are other pictures with the bee eater sitting on the perch. I wanted to share this as I found the pose with wings spread interesting.

Hope you like it.

Regards,
Murali Santhanam
goutham_ramesh, nglen, RadhikaG, manyee, ramthakur, chrisnet, vigneshg has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ramthakur: Thankssmurali 1 05-10 13:58
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Murali,
it's amazing to see this beautiful in that pose, it's a marvelous shot, so sharp and with brilliant colours, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Murali,
Very detailed account of our trip to naguvanahalli.Its my pleasure to have you as a company during these photo outings :-). The picture is superb , never mind the clipped tail. The action, catchlight in the eye and the details on the wings are superb
TFS
Goutham R

Hi Murali
Wonderful shot
i like it so much
Well done
Regards

Dear Murali, Great shot, fantastic details and great moment captured..congrats !
with best regards.vab.

  • Great 
  • marcin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 126 W: 0 N: 155] (1371)
  • [2007-05-02 14:23]

hello Murali
amazing shot, very sharp, i like it
tfs
marcin

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1988 W: 5 N: 5524] (20880)
  • [2007-05-02 15:18]

Hi Murali, A very good shot ,very shar with great colour and detail. the light in the eye is very good .TFS well done.
Great notes to.

Nick

Hi Murali

Fantastic shot. Great composition and POV. Very sharp and the feather details are just marvellous. More than anything else, I like the look in the bee-eater's eye. Very compelling. Nice colours also.

TFS

Radhika

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3069 W: 231 N: 5857] (19698)
  • [2007-05-03 0:11]

What a fantastic shot indeed, Murali.
A pose rarely seen, with those wings wide open.
The colors are just gorgeous.
Excellent details and POV.
I really enjoyed reading your account of your set-up.
Your patience was greatly rewarded,
and we also benefit. TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • Swats Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 37 W: 0 N: 44] (488)
  • [2007-05-03 5:54]

Wow! Awesome capture Murali. Fanatstic colours, details and composition. Lovely light!

bonjour
toutes mes félicitations , cette photo est magnifique, les couleurs, les détails , la posture
génial, bravo et merci
edith

So here is a Bee Eater, actually ready to eat a bee, Murali!
Sorry, I missed this fantastic capture and can't express my delight in words after looking at it.
The open-wing stance in this capture is really unusual and you have done a great job by way of a super snap shot with phenomenal clarity and delightful colours.
TFS.

Hello Murali,
Very good capture of this wonderful bird, I like his pose and his beautiful wings, well seen and done.
Regards
Christian

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