Kookaburra :)

[blacknstormy]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/A5F3B38C35EC17E/standard.jpg[img]

Hi all
Haven't posted for a while - thought it was time I got back into it.

This is a shot of a kookaburra - or laughing jackass - an Australian bird that has a call much like mad laughter. :)
He/She came down to our campsite as the sun was going down, and happily (for me at least) sat on this stump long enough for me to get off a shot.

Hope you like it
Rel

[slejhamer]

Hey Rel - good capture. My 3-year old daughter saw (and heard) one of these on "the animal channel" the other day and thought it was the funniest thing ever. Thanks for posting.

P.S. The image is a tiny bit soft... could be camera shake?

[Conk]

I agree with Mitch. I took the liberty of sharpening it a touch and it made a huge difference.You might want to try it.

[eland]

Good shot Rel. Welcome back

This looks like a juvenile.
The adult birds are among the grubbiest-looking birds
I've ever seen. Always look like they need a good bath
and some grooming.

In this respect they remind me of the African Marabou Stork.
That's another dirty-looking bird, but then they're
carrion eaters and often have their head inside a
rotting animal.
.
What is the Kookaburra's excuse ?



eland

[Leighow]

REL

Beautiful shot -- and you may not appreciate just how beautiful if you do not PS7.

************************************************

I set all the auto levels, then used the magic wand to brighten all but the bird (that requires three steps because the fence wire forces a break in the magic-wanding). Then I sharpened

RESULT IMHO: A much more "in-nature" presentation with stronger greems and yellows where -- to my complete surprise -- the brown rushes emerge from relative obscurity to introduce a stronger curve and lead-in to the bird. In fact, while the bird is on a golden mean, the above alterations illuminate the compostion. I cropped 40% of the below the fence line image too!)

Anyway I tried to upload but my FTP does not want to work for me this morning.

HOWIE

[blacknstormy]

Thanks for your comments everyone :)
There might be a bit of camera shake - just got back from a 4 hour walk through the bush, and this little block landed next to our tent, so was in a rush to get the shot.
Eland - I kind of like the way kooka's look - reminds me of us Australians - rough, ready and genuine :) lol (and usually covered in dirt lolol)
Howie - I'm off to try playing in photoshop
Rel

[henkbos]

Does that mean that the Aussies are a little bit unfocussed as well or is this just handshake by Fosters?