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The art of camouflage


The art of camouflage
Photo Information
Copyright: Richard Cridland (rcrick) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 717 W: 37 N: 1558] (5011)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-06
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS USM, SanDisk Ultra II 1GB, Hoya 77mm Pro1 DMC UV LPF
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): My Backyard Birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-01-19 2:25
Viewed: 659
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
These Scaly-breasted Lorikeets don’t often come in to the garden, and every time they do I do try to get a shot of them but with little success, there certainly not as tame as the Rainbow Lorikeets.

This little guy was so well camouflaged in amongst the Grevillea “spitfire” I really got the impression that he thought he was invisible.

The Scaly-breasted Lorikeet's beak and eyes are red, and it is the only lorikeet with an all-green head combined with a red beak. Sexes appear the same, with green upper-wings and body, marked with yellow 'scales' on the breast and neck. In flight, Scaly-breasted Lorikeets have two-tone, red-orange underwings with grey trailing edges.

They tend to live in lowland eucalypt forests and woodlands but also occurs in heathlands and well-treed urban areas, including parks and gardens.

They tend to feed in flocks, sometimes joining flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets. Their diet consists of nectar and pollen that they harvest with their brush-tongues, mostly from eucalypts, but also from shrubs such as melaleucas, callistemons and banksias. They also forage from a range of garden plants, including nectar, pollen, fruits and seeds from umbrella trees.

They sometimes visit bird-feeders, but are often excluded from artificial food sources by Rainbow Lorikeets. Maintaining tree hollows in old trees is likely to benefit this species.

Details: Shot Raw and converted to Jpeg, cropped and re-sized sharpened slightly for posting.

File Name IMG_2213.CR2
Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Shooting Date/Time 6/09/2008 2:48:55 PM
Shooting Mode Shutter-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/200
Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3
Metering Mode Partial Metering
Exposure Compensation -1/3
ISO Speed 200
Lens EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length 400.0 mm
Image Size 751x800
Image Quality Jpeg
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Auto
White balance compensation A1 G1
AF Mode AI Servo AF
Picture Style User Defined 1(Neutral)
Sharpness 6
Contrast 2
Saturation 3
Color tone 1
Color Space sRGB
Long exposure noise reduction 2:Enable
High ISO speed noise reduction 1:Enable
Highlight tone priority 0:Disable
File Size 276 KB
Drive Mode High-speed continuous shooting
ramthakur, Argus, JoseMiguel, jpdenk, uleko has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To JPlumb: The art of camouflagercrick 1 01-20 15:19
To inked: The art of camouflagercrick 2 01-19 19:44
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Critiques [Translate]

I really could not spot the Lorikeet in the thumbnail image, Richard.
But it was a wonderful surprise to see it in the full version.
The bird is really merging with the surrounding greenery.
The image is well composed, colourful and sharp.
TFS and regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3821 W: 190 N: 11376] (35063)
  • [2009-01-19 3:56]

Hello Rick,
Though the Scaly-breasted Lorrikeet is a striking bird it can be unseen in certain situations and light conditions, such as this among the Grevillea flowers. Despite this, he has been captured with fine sharpness and lighting and the salient features are well seen.
TFS this beauty,
Cheers,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 142 W: 0 N: 248] (769)
  • [2009-01-19 17:34]
  • [+]

hi Richard,
really nice, and aptly named shot of this scaly.. they really do blend in.. nice work to focus so well on the face through the branches... great colour and clarity throughout.. well done!!
is that a beasty new camera too??? very cool!!! =))

Hi Rick,
I think I could have missed this one with the Rainbow Lorikeet, it's very similar, but now I'm aware and know what the differences are.
You managed pretty well to have this shot done, looking through the branches to the elusive bird, and bringing good details of how he looks like.
Good work and thanks for share.
My best regards,
JM

Hi Rick,

Excellent composition showing how the brilliant colors of this bird are actually an adaptation to their environment. Great color, sharpness, detail and composition.

Thanks,
John

Very nicely seen Rick. The shot is sharp with good colour, yet it does blend in very well with it's surroundings. Depth of field was a good choice to pull in the brush around the bird as well.

Thanks, John

Hello Rick

It is difficult to see in the thumbnail,but when I looked at the image the bird is well seen and captured by the photographer.Good eye!
Lovely focus and detail ,this beauty is in a beautiful and colourful natural setting.
Well composed in the frame.
TFS

Wolf

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2997 W: 162 N: 968] (2839)
  • [2009-01-21 3:58]

Hello Rick,
What a beautifully coloured pattern this is where the Lorikeet is indeed nicely camouflaged! It is nicely in focus though and I like the way it is nibbling at the pretty flower. Fine sharp details and very beautiful colours!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2575] (9085)
  • [2009-01-21 6:00]

Hi Richard,
really clever. in the direct sunlight it can hide unseen. Excellent discovery and a very splendid composition.
Really beautiful - the bird and the shot.

regards,
Foozi

Rick,

This is a great shot. It really shows why those birds are so colorful - I'd say they fit right in with their surroundings. Looks great mate. TFS.

Best Regards,

Martin

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