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Author Topic: Feathered Portrait  (Read 3046 times)

Mongo

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Feathered Portrait
« on: January 22, 2017, 00:22:00 »
When you study and photography animals (especially birds) extensively, you can tell when their “look” towards you changes from fear, caution, curiosity etc to one of a sort of peaceful communication and connection. This is not so common and thought it worth posting for this reason.

This New Zealand Kea is better known for its car dismantling and partial car consumption habits in some of the car parking areas of the NZ mountains. Yes, it will start to pull your car apart and eat rubber and other soft components of your car if you are not vigilant.

No it did not eat Mongo’s car but there is no doubt that it would have tried to pull his camera equipment apart if it had been given the opportunity.

D800 with AFS 300 f4 @ f4 , 1/200th, ISO 400, -0.3EV
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John Geerts

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2017, 00:29:27 »
Incredible detail,  and a very special 'look'.  Great shot, Mongo.
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Akira

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2017, 00:40:50 »
The portrait surely conveys the mischievousness rather than the wildness of the bird!
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"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

Frank Fremerey

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2017, 00:50:19 »
Unbelievably you managed to extract all there is to be extracted from scene, light and equipment, Master.
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You are out there. You and your camera. You can shoot or not shoot as you please. Discover the world, Your world. Show it to us. Or we might never see it.

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atpaula

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2017, 01:01:52 »
Awesome! It deserves a very large print.
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Aguinaldo
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Jakov Minić

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2017, 01:26:32 »
Beautiful portrait!
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armando_m

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2017, 02:35:19 »
Impressive ! thanks for sharing it
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Armando Morales
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Bill De Jager

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2017, 04:10:39 »
Quote from: Akira on January 22, 2017, 00:40:50
The portrait surely conveys the mischievousness rather than the wildness of the bird!

Well put, and an outstanding photo.
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FredCrowBear

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2017, 04:30:03 »
Very well executed.  Good eye, beak, and feather detail. 
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Frederick V. Ramsey

elsid

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2017, 08:53:31 »
Excellent shot Mongo.
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John G

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2017, 10:51:42 »
Hi Mongo,
               You have captured the most inspirational portrait, I believe we are seeing into the soul of this Kea. Well Done !
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John Gallagher

Mongo

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2017, 11:33:13 »
A very big thanks to everyone for looking in and for your kind feedback comments.

It was a wonderful moment of ' connection ' with this likeable rascal.

Also, thanks to the AFS 300mm f4. It is one mid level reasonably priced and nicely made lens (albeit with an after market foot) that Mongo has used extensively and given due and deserved praise to. Even wide open it produces excellent quality images and Mongo recommends it highly.
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Bent Hjarbo

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2017, 12:03:40 »
Very nice shot.
Do I see the reflction of the photographer in the birds eye ;)
This picture is a nice recommendation of the 300/f4.
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Peter Connan

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2017, 19:09:27 »
Magnificent portrait Mongo!
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Hugh_3170

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Re: Feathered Portrait
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2017, 03:04:49 »
Mongo, +1 to what everyone has said about this delightful image of this rascal.

Also +1 in respective of the destructiive nature of the Kea. 

The bird is an Alpine Parrot and it can resort to quite violent means to feed itself.  For example, it is known to alight on the backs of sheep and eat into them, e.g. into the fatty areas and the kidneys, thereby killing the sheep.  They have been known on rare occassions to attack humans that have become disabled in the bush - almost like winged Piranahas.  And yes my car in NZ has had a very large chunk of the rubber seal surrounding the rear windscreen torn out by one of these critters.  They can operate alone or in packs, which can indeed make them quite formidable.
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Hugh Gunn
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