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African Jacana (PAW 4/52)
African Jacana (PAW 4/52)
HarveyG


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Camera: Nikon D90
Lens: Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF HSM for Nikon
Location: Lake Panic Bird Hide, Kruger National Park, RSA
Aperture: 5.0
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1/2500
Galleries: Birds
Date Uploaded: Jan 22, 2013

Viewed: 293
Comments: 20
Favorites: 0

 A beautiful African Jacana (Actophilornis africana) in it's natural environment on African Water Lillies, one of which is about to flower.
She entertained me the entire day foraging in front of the hide, looking under the pads, flying in and out, hopping from one pad to the next, however light was o/c and I only got a small window of about 10 minutes of sunshine where I eventually got this shot of her with a seed or polyp foraged from under a lilly pad. Sore bums and full bladders in a bird hide (no toilet for 20kms and the nearest trees are scratched by wild Lions)...but it can be worth it! I also got in flight images of Cranes, Pied Kingfishers and a Snake Bird (Anhinga Rufa) trying to eat a fish it had caught that was about 5x larger than it's throat :)

Any comment or critique; complimentary or critical are welcome and appreciated. Questions about gear or technique also welcome!

This image is © copyrighted 2013 by Harvey Grohmann. Duplication, publication, copying is strictly forbidden and protected by law. To obtain pricing and consent contact me via Photocommission.com

for Photograph a Week 2013

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AuthorThread
 02/07/2013 08:05:40 PM
This is a great capture and the colours a wonderful. I do think it would be worthwhile to clone out the bright spot on the flower bud as I find myself being drawn to it. Great details of the feathers.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2013 03:42:53 AM
wonderful clarity. I'm thinking with a 70-200 you were actually quite close unless you had a Teleconverter or it's heavily cropped? Strike my comments, I now read other comments and your response :) The hide was in the water - oh boy. Lovely looking bird and the colours in this just pop.

Message edited by author 2013-01-27 03:44:38.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/27/2013 02:51:06 AM
Great shot overall, I love birds. Very nice balance of colors, with only the highlight on the bud just a tad too bright. I think a little heavy on the sharpening which works well on the leaves and the water, but is bordering on artefacts on the bird.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/26/2013 12:52:16 AM
A beautiful shot as always Harvey. Maybe it's my monitor but there are no blown out spots as I can see detail in all the whites. It's always a bonus when you get them doing something normal for them - eating - and unusual for us to witness. Beautiful textures and patterns and a real treat as that bird doesn't live in my neck of the woods.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/24/2013 11:34:21 AM
What beautiful colors. It appears as though she is proud of her catch, and wants you to see it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/24/2013 02:30:30 AM
nam and kasaba You are right, the lilly is too bright for the overall balance. The white splotch is part of the flower petals about to open. I tend not to "drastically" alter reality in PP. I have to get my head around that. The birds white neck is in stark contrast to the rest and I have balanced it ever so slightly by reducing EV in RAW processing, in fact I shot UE by at least 1EV in the middle of the day and spot meter with 6, 8, 12% additional surround average. Nice function in the Nikon "Pro-Sumer" and Pro bodies. Naturally the trick in a still photo is to balance every area of it as if your eye was viewing the live scene and adjusting the pupil accordingly. The African sun appears massively bright when compared with other countries I've been to. On average inland we are 2 kilometres closer to it than most other places :)
 01/23/2013 08:43:21 PM
Beautiful sharpness, colors, light overall. What a very pretty bird. I have to agree with kasaba about the bud - it looks overly bright and draws the eye. The other area that seems over-exposed on my monitor is the white on the side of the face. I'm sure you shot in raw - can you recover any detail in those highlights?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2013 06:43:31 PM
This is the best you've submitted so far for the PAW. The complementary colors of the red bird against the green background, the use of contrast and brightness to draw the eye to the bird, crisp but not overdone editing. Nice stuff.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2013 01:58:22 PM
Beautifully natural image. Flawless.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2013 01:53:51 PM
This is great shot ! I have seen the Jacanas at Lake p many times, when I was there in Nov they were nesting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2013 07:34:15 AM
Originally posted by kasaba:
My one comment is that it looks like you did some "funny" editing on that water lillie bud. It looks different to the rest of the image and, to me, sticks out. If you haven't edited it and that's what it looks like, maybe you should ;-) Interesting observation. No editing on the water lilly at all. No other editing other than a hint of Topaz Labs DeNoise 5 and some standard but subtle sharpening across the entire image.


Message edited by author 2013-01-24 02:15:06.
 01/23/2013 07:30:59 AM
Originally posted by Dennisheckman:
Brilliant work Harvey. I googled the bird and found this image of a youngster. They are adorable! The proportion of feet to body is amazing. No wonder they walk on anything and stay afloat.


Thank you Dennis. Good gear and patience, lots of patience, add up. It's not a BiF or fish catching Eagle but in it's own way I guess...
Yes the feet are amazing natural adaptations to it's environment.
 01/23/2013 07:29:16 AM
Originally posted by thrumyiis:
Did you use an extender or were you quite close in the hide? The hide is in the water :) Crop factor of 1.5x on the Sigma 70-200mm shot @185mm or 277mm effective) I wish I could see the birds feet, could you use a polarizer here to help see into the water or is that just not feasible to do in wildlife photography Under exactly the right circumstances it would work (light at the correct angle and CPL at the correct rotation) but then the bird moves so practicably it's not doable. Possibly in Post? With a software polarizer?. I have one but dont have any real experience with it.


I'll add a photo of the bird scratching her ear so you and Dennisheckman can see how long they are on an adult :)

Message edited by author 2013-01-23 07:40:04.
 01/23/2013 06:19:24 AM
Wow you look like you are right in the water with this little guy. I can even see the color of the dragonfly. Nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/23/2013 06:08:49 AM
Nice shot Harvey. Did you use an extender or were you quite close in the hide? I wish I could see the birds feet, could you use a polarizer here to help see into the water or is that just not feasible to do in wildlife photography. I have one but dont have any real experience with it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2013 10:51:40 PM
Great colors and you caught him/her with dinner too. Sounds like your time in the bird hide paid off.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2013 08:05:13 PM
Brilliant work Harvey. I googled the bird and found this image of a youngster. They are adorable! The proportion of feet to body is amazing. No wonder they walk on anything and stay afloat.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2013 05:19:20 PM
Cool bird Harv! I am enjoying seeing the birds of Africa through your lens. I am generally not too critical of wildlife shots as you only have so much control over your environment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2013 04:09:35 PM
Wow, I like this one! Very clear, an real. I like how the focus fades to the back. I like the vibrant colours.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 01/22/2013 04:07:31 PM
Great shot Harvey. The colours of the bird against the green leaves: so pretty.
My one comment is that it looks like you did some "funny" editing on that water lillie bud. It looks different to the rest of the image and, to me, sticks out. If you haven't edited it and that's what it looks like, maybe you should ;-)

  Photographer found comment helpful.


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