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My 400th post


My 400th post
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris Chafer (sandpiper2) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1663 W: 111 N: 3514] (11415)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12-10
Categories: Birds
Camera: Pentax K100D Super, Sigma 70-300 DG Macro, Digital ISO-400, Matin 58mm UV
Exposure: f/8, 1/180 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): My trip to Belize and Costa Rica, Milestones [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-08 2:14
Viewed: 978
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Well this is my 400th post and it nearly coincided with my 50th birthday.

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been posting shots here for 3 & half years, it certainly doesn’t seem that long ago that I uploaded a rather ordinary shot of a Pied Butcherbird. Back then I was using Fuji S5000 point and shoot, but it got me interested in photography again after an absence of 15 years. And this site has seen my shots improve little by little over the years to a point where I’m usually happy with what comes out of the camera at the end of days shooting. Nevertheless I continue to learn something new just about every day I log on to TN. What more could one ask for.

Thanks to everyone who has critiqued or viewed my work. I read every critique and take note of the ones that suggest an improvement or two. Anyway, many more shots to post….

This is a Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), the national bird of Belize and we saw them in several locations during our week there, but never close enough to shoot. This one was captured at La Selva Verde lodge in Costa Rica, one of the best birding spots I’ve ever been to.

The Keel-billed Toucan is found from southern Mexico through Central America to Columbia and Venezuela. They are a bird of the lowland rainforest canopy and usually travel around in groups of 3 to 12. They are highly social and playful and will even throw food items to one another, which we actually saw at La Selva, quite amazing!

Their large and colorful bills averages around 12-15 cm (5-6 in), which is up to one third of the birds’ length. While the bill seems large and cumbersome, it is in fact a spongy, hollow bone covered in keratin, a very light and hard protein.

Despite the large bill, they mainly eat small fruits and berries, though they do take a wide variety of rainforest fruit, insects, tree frogs, lizards and even birds eggs. Toucans nest in tree hollows and raise 2-4 young. The texts say these toucans are relatively poor fliers and prefer to hop around the forest canopy where possible. However when we saw them flying around in Belize, their flight appeared quite powerful to me, with glides between wingbeats.

Thanks for looking.

PS. I couldn’t decide which one to post, so another toucan shot is in the workshop.
boreocypriensis, Photoslave, uleko, mariki, goldyrs, CeltickRanger, kjpweb, lgfoto, Alex99, MMM, Adanac, Jamesp, jusninasirun, Argus, earthtraveler has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 0 N: 926] (7973)
  • [2008-03-08 2:17]

Hi Chris,

Congratulations! 400 postings is a great result. I hope to see many more.This colorful toucan is posing for you...

regards,
Zeno.

Hi Chris,
Happy Birthday my friend! and Congratulation for 400th posting! This a great work! Your capture is excellent as usual!
TFS my friend!
Cheers,
Bayram

Hi Chris,

i think it's a perfect posting to celebrate your meaningful day & passion for TN. very colourful as life is & bright as how your future should be.

Happy Birthday & keep shooting & posting! Cheers!

TFS
Regards
Agoes

  • Great 
  • Karin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 418 W: 5 N: 268] (2089)
  • [2008-03-08 3:32]

Hi Chris,
Beautiful natural colors and excelent sharpness on the yellow feathers, eye and beak.
The pose also makes a good composition.
TFS and congratulations.

Hi Chris,

great close view, compliments for your 400th post. Extra quality, sharpness and colors are excellent.

Well done!

Gio

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2458 W: 168 N: 7420] (23432)
  • [2008-03-08 4:12]

Hello Chris,
Congratulations on your 400th post and what a splendid capture to celebrate with! I love the close view, the sharp details and wonderful colours. Another excellent view in the Workshop too.
I hope you'll have a lovely 50th birthday too!
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

Hello Chris,

Very nice portrait of this Toucan. Excellent sharpness and wonderful colours.
Happy birthday!
Congrats for your 400th!
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1681 W: 242 N: 5550] (19643)
  • [2008-03-08 4:52]

Hello Chris,
Congratulations on posting for 400th photo on this site!!!!!
And also I hope you have a very Happy Birthday as well.
Superb image to commemorate this day.
The bright colours are beautiful!
Very sharp with great clarity.
I like the photo in the WS as well.
I hope to see hundreds more from you in the future :-D
Thanks,

Joe

hello chris,
please accept my best wishes on posting your 400th shot at TN, it reflects your passion to photography and contribution to this site,

you have managed excellent results with sigma 70/300 lens, i liked the vibrant colours, pov and the eye contact,

well done & looking forward to another 400 shots from you

tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi there Chris,
Firstly well done on 400 and it is an amazing shot to coincide with your number 400.Excellent sharpness and image vision with no background interference. Keep up the good pics and I hope to see more like this.
erwin...

Chris,
Any 100 is a milestone, this is 4 times over!
Congratulations!This is a very good shot has very nice POV/DOF.
Thanks & Cheers!
Goldy

Hello Chris,
Your 400th posting is just an outstanding one
Superb photo sharp and colourful
Happy Birthday
Albert

Hello Chris,
Congratulations on your 400th posting and your 50th birthday. This one is really a beauty. Extreme fine colours and perfect sharpness. Very beautiful POV, composition and BG. The one in your workshop is also excellent.
Regards,
Peter

Happy B-day and congrats on the No. 400! And - in style you show a spotless image. Perfect handle on the exposure in the difficult bright yellows and great sharpness.
Great work! Cheers, Klaus

  • Great 
  • badar Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 109 W: 0 N: 168] (785)
  • [2008-03-08 8:57]

Hi Chris,
Fantastic details. A very interesting image with beautiful colours & a beak to match. Very well captured.
TFS
Badar

Congratulation to 400th post and to a birthsday Chris. This shot is really a great one to celebrate with. I like the excellent clarity of details, mastered colours and composition. TFS

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 751 W: 0 N: 1506] (6872)
  • [2008-03-08 12:37]

Hi Christ
Beautifu portrait .Good POV and sharp imahe with excellent details.Colors are outstanding.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1043 W: 1 N: 4096] (13768)
  • [2008-03-08 14:31]

Hello Chris,
A hearty congratulation on your 400th posting. Your work is amazing and this colorful one is superb with great details, what a nice way to celebrate.
Rick

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1251 W: 0 N: 4829] (14332)
  • [2008-03-08 16:26]

Hi Chris

Beautiful shot - good, clear colours and excellent exposure and detail. Congratulations on your 400th.

TFS

James

  • Great 
  • darwin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 245 W: 0 N: 453] (1708)
  • [2008-03-08 17:24]

Hi Chris
Wonderful shot
Beautiful color
Nice detail especially around the eye
Congrats on 400 posts
tfs jon

Hello Chris. Beautiful mugshot with excellent sharpness and vibrancy of vivid colors. The glassy eye looks really stunning. Well done and best regards. Jusni

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3029 W: 148 N: 4520] (14595)
  • [2008-03-09 0:33]

Hi Chris.
My congratulations on 400th post. You have created amazing photo gallery. Both shots (originals one and WS) are superb. Terrific portrait works with ultimate exactness of details and colour reproduction. BG of both pictures is so wonderful as image of the main character. Bravo and kind regards.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2596 W: 133 N: 7433] (23169)
  • [2008-03-09 5:39]

Hello Chris,
Congratulations on your 400th post!
This one to celebrate the occasion is a fine capture of the Keel-billed Toucan and I like both images, I prefer this one to the one in the WS. I like the POV, pose and composition. The sharpness is excellent. You must have been able to get close to take such a fine portrait of this toucan.
Thanks for sharing it,
Ivan

Magnifica foto de qualidade exelente muito bem focada e nitides perfeita meus parabéns.
Estarei pegando para meu album particular OK.
Nilson

hello Chris

Congratulations to your 400 postings
and a happy birthday to you,

lovely shot of this wonderful colored Toucan, excellent POV,
excellent sharpness and details and a great eye-contact, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-03-09 22:21]

Hi Chris,
CONGRATULATIONS on reaching this incredible milestone and a very Happy Birthday to YOU. You sure do let us relish and cheer this moment. May you have a long long life and share with us many many more wonderful shots of yours. This combination should be such an exciting journey.
Outstanding portrait shot of this beautiful and colourful bird with immaculate sharpness and lovely colours. The expressive eye looks just majestic. Great DOF, POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hello Chris, congratulations on your 400th post, and what a beauty it is. Great pov, pose, excellent composition. Perfect lighting for a nice mood & good dof, nice details. tfs Rgds Necip

Hi Chris, Congrats on this 400th! post. Fine portrait of this Toucan. You managed good details of the fine neck feathers and wonderful color in this super pose. tfs Richard

Hi Chris,
Wow! I cant believe I missed this one, it is simply stunning, and also one of my favorite birds. I also have been to La Selva Verde lodge, and must say it is a very nice place to visit. Your rainbow-billed ramphastid looks like it might be a female. Congratulations on your 400th post. TFS :)

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2338] (8400)
  • [2008-04-07 14:26]

Hi Chris,
Impeccable portrait with a perfect pose, awesome details, well saturated colours and perfect composition. Congratulations on your 400th post and almost 50th birthday!
TFS, José M.

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