Apr 20 - 26: Philippine Cuckoo-Dove by Neon R.

[Romy Ocon]

Philippine Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia tenuirostris, endemic)

Photographed by Neon Rosell II at Diteki, Baler, Aurora April 20, 2009, 5DM2 + 600 mm L f4 + 1.4x Sigma TC, f5.6, 1/40 sec, ISO 800, Tripod-Gimbal support, TV priority, Raw capture.

[Romy Ocon]

This is among the best renditions I've seen of this beautiful endemic dove - amazing detail, lovely colors, great pose, and clean and creamy background. It's technically superb and aesthetically top-notch. Further, this species is not photographed up close very often and that makes this capture really stunning. It is by far my top favorite of Neon's vast work.... it just doesn't get any better than this. Congrats, Neon!

[Tonji Ramos]

Amazing.
Perfect shot right there.

Perfect.
Its a pleasure to view, wow Neon this is "THE" shot!

Its sooo sharp. The greenish grey around the eye, then the red outer eye ring, then a black band, then white, then the pupil.

I color and the exposure, its warm and the colors pop out! My goodness, your settings 5.6 with a 1/40 sec speed wow, superb. A challenging shot with difficult lighting.

The tail feathers and the detail on the damaged portions of the tail feathers, with the shadows in between the layers makes the picture have a 3d quality.

Thank you for sharing!

[Ding Carpio]

Wow, Neon! You're on a roll!

No, no. Make that an avalanche of perfect photos.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

1/40!!!! Incredible!

Excellent picture! Walamasabi!

[Neon Rosell II]

Thanks Ka Mastah for choosing this photo . It's really one of the best I've produced so far. As you increase the frequency of sorties you increase the chance of getting the perfect shot. Although the shooting conditions present itself, I mean you don't have control over it all the time. This is what I liked with this hobby you have to deal with different conditions every time and the challenge is you have to make the best of it.

I knew that I'd be shooting under canopy so I prepare the higher (800) ISO in advance and just have to cope with the varying condition. I guess ISO 800 with the 5DM2 would still produce stunning and minimal noise captures in changing light conditions. Tv mode was used as with the 600 mm L IS a minimum shutter speed of 500 is the best to capture with this long lens.

As time goes by and I get more accustomed in handling the 600mm I was able to lower the shutter speed to as low as 1/40 sec with good result.

I was just lucky that the pair of cuckoo dove landed just on top of me. The problem was aiming the the camera and capturing the bird in FF. I was shooting in landscape at first and could not get the bird inside the frame. With constant sorties you get steadier hands under adrenalin pumping minutes and time seems to stretch and changing positions is second nature already.

Most of these techniques were acquired while shooting with the Ka Mastah and of course the critique and suggestions I receive in this forum. But most of all you have to go out there and learn it yourself, Ka Mastah and the experts here won't be behind the camera it will be you, so learn from them and practice it, you'll develop your own set of skills when the time comes.

Here's a photo of me when I was shooting this picture, taken by Aphine with the 40D and Kit lens 18-55mm IS, you can see the 40D set on auto wasn't able to handle the lighting conditions well.


Just came from another 2 days 7 hr drive one way sortie, but love every second of it especially when you're with "Avianus magneticus" Plain Master Idol Tins herself w/ Wency and Aphine who is a subspecies of A. magneticus magneticus you'll see why in another post.

Thanks Tonji, Ding and Edu for the encouraging words....lets shoot tomorrow!!!

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

So it's true what they say.. Practice makes perfect.. but what if nobody's perfect? Kidding!

Sir, you know I will consider it an honor to go birding with you but right now I have a "hold departure order" in effect.

[Toto Gamboa]

Wow ... amazing capture of the bird! Aurora is really a bird paradise. Hope to get back there someday

[Azahari Reyes @ Jason]

Excellent image