Post by Ely Teehankee on May 24, 2012 10:55:07 GMT
San Gerardo de Dota has a park called Parque Nacional de Quetzal. This is where I was able to photograph the Resplendent Quetzal birdphotoph.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=worldbirds&action=display&thread=8510 said to be one if not the most beautiful bird in the world. The elevation here is 2200 meters so it gets very cold in the evening up to early morning. The rooms at the hotel are equipped with alcohol fueled heaters. Alex was my bird guide for the day and it looks like he was having fun looking for birds for me to photograph. I met him at Myriam's Quetzal Lodge where I would wait for birds to come either to the feeders, avocado tree (Quetzal's favorite fruit) or the small fruit trees growing outside the porch which serves as a view deck. It was also a nice place to have lunch there because Myriam is a very good cook. By chance I met Alex at the viewing deck and it was a good start for he pointed out to me that the Flaming Tanagers were trying to mate but when I saw the male fall off when he mounted the female it gave me the chance to set up my camera for the second take. In about 3 seconds it was all over and I was able to get 14 frames in 2 seconds of that rare moment. birdphotoph.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=worldbirds&action=display&thread=8444 It was supposed to be for half a day but not being contented with what we had we agreed to continue for the rest of the day. It was tiring but it was also fulfilling. The Yellowish Flycatcher (Empidonax flavescens) was inside the forest and being under the canopy I had to set the ISO at 3200 to have enough light for this bright yellow bird. When we first saw it, the distance was about 12 meters. I took some shots and later on it flew almost in front of me. This are moments every bird photographer would like to have but it seldom happens and when it does happen it gives you the feeling of satisfaction like you had a cold drink on a hot day to quench your thirst.
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 300mm
f/2.8L IS USM with Canon Extender 2X II.
Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, Wimberley WH200 head. Manual exposure in available light.
The curious look of the bird when he sees someone in front of him and is wary of his movements.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 6.62 meters.
Here he relaxes a bit looking at one side but still wary of the presence of human beings.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 6.62 meters.
He makes a bird call, probably looking for a mate or companion.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 6.62 meters.
Here you can see the uneven eye ring of the bird extending behind the eye.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 6.62 meters.
He turns around and looking up the face catches the light. This is not an ideal condition where only some parts of the bird is lighted by the sunlight. However it gives me the opportunity to take a picture of his back.
1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 7.37 meters.
This was the closest I got to the bird. It is too bad that there was a small branch between us that prevented a clear shot of this beautiful Yellowish Flycatcher.
1/100 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 5.1 meters.
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 300mm
f/2.8L IS USM with Canon Extender 2X II.
Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, Wimberley WH200 head. Manual exposure in available light.
The curious look of the bird when he sees someone in front of him and is wary of his movements.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 6.62 meters.
Here he relaxes a bit looking at one side but still wary of the presence of human beings.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 6.62 meters.
He makes a bird call, probably looking for a mate or companion.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 6.62 meters.
Here you can see the uneven eye ring of the bird extending behind the eye.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 6.62 meters.
He turns around and looking up the face catches the light. This is not an ideal condition where only some parts of the bird is lighted by the sunlight. However it gives me the opportunity to take a picture of his back.
1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 7.37 meters.
This was the closest I got to the bird. It is too bad that there was a small branch between us that prevented a clear shot of this beautiful Yellowish Flycatcher.
1/100 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200 Distance to subject 5.1 meters.