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Hiding in the Fig Tree


Hiding in the Fig Tree
Photo Information
Copyright: John Plumb (JPlumb) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 637 W: 166 N: 889] (2884)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-23
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D200, NIKKOR AF-S 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 ED DX VR
Exposure: f/6.7, 1/180 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-12-06 20:48
Viewed: 969
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
My wife and I were in Lucinda recently to have a look at the Lucinda Bulk Sugar Terminal . While there we had a wander around a park by the water. This was a great spot for me, as I spotted four different birds that I had never seen before. I even managed to capture their pixels with some level of success.

This was the first guy. He is a Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides). Actually I think he’s new to everybody on this site, though we have seen his cousin the Noisy Friarbird. He was hiding in a Fig Tree. Every time I went to take his picture he would duck into the leaves, and come out somewhere else. This was the clearest shot I was able to get of him.

Not a lot of information is written about these birds. They are the largest Australian Friarbirds and the largest mainland honeyeaters. They feed on nectar, pollen, insects, spiders and small vertebrates when not quarrelling or brawling. They breed during the spring, as do many birds anticipating the bounty of the wet season.

Some of this from: http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/fauna/fg-bbcf-09.html
ID from: Simpson K. and Day N. (2004), Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Penguin Books, Camberwell.

Workflow for this shot was as follows:
The shoot – shot in Raw with Jpeg reference
NEF file adjusted for exposure and shadow
Adjusted levels for black and white points
Adjusted curves for contrast
Burned and Dodged with overlay layer (5-10% opacity black and white brush)
Added saturation layer +10 to master, +20 to red for eye only
Saved as a tiff
For this post, sharpened with USM (toned down edges and tree area with layer mask and 50% opacity black brush), framed, and saved as a jpeg
rcrick, Argus, pierrefonds, ramthakur, EOSF1, mlines, Adanac has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 710 W: 36 N: 1548] (4989)
  • [2007-12-06 22:50]

Hi John,
A good shot of the Helmeted Friarbird in its natural environment, excellent detail, and well framed, nice eye catch too, all the best Cheers Rick

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1971 W: 6 N: 5513] (19621)
  • [2007-12-07 2:17]

very nice bird portrait,i like a lot the perfect detail of red eyes,thanks for share,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3802 W: 190 N: 11310] (34871)
  • [2007-12-07 4:00]

Hello John,
Fine capture of a Helmeted Friarbird, a species I photographed in Daintree but my shot was not as good as this one. I think you're right this is a first on TN!
Nicely composed in the figtree foliage and pretty sharp with good lighting and colours.
Well done and thanks,
Ivan

Hi John,

A nice image of the bird hiding in the tree, the photo has a good composition, sharpness and beautiful colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

How fun to spot birds you hadn't before seen. It's a nice capture. The color, sharpness and exposure all look good to me.

TFS
Evelynn : )

John,
Interesting shot in habitat. For my money, certainly one of the most reptilian, if not the most, genera of all birddom!

John, this is a wonderful picture of this bird not seen on TN frequently.
I find this a very natural shot -- the bird being half hidden in the branches and leaves of a fig tree.
The focus on the visible parts is remarkably sharp. The eye in particular is well captured, showing the subtle tones of colours in it.
Thanks for sharing the picture of this rare bird and best regards,
Ram

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2007-12-09 6:24]

Hello John, you have captured a rare bird ! Nicely done with lots of sharp details and you got it's natural environment at the same time. Well done ! Thanks !

Mario

  • Great 
  • mlines Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 541 W: 24 N: 596] (2870)
  • [2007-12-09 12:11]

Hi John. A fine capture of this unusual bird. The way you have it, with the tasty looking berries make it a classic. In the small version the camaflage is almost perfect, i couldn't see the bird at all. Good work. Murray.

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2007-12-09 15:12]

Hello John,
Amazing image with fantastic details and colors. I absolutely love his eye, thanks for sharing this great image.
Rick

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