p.1 #1 · Resplendent quetzal - an unplanned encounter
Originally, we planned of staying and shooting only around Sarapiqui region, north of San Jose for 5 days. We planned of spending the last and 6th day in San Jose either at the museum and/or butterfly park there before heading to the airport. While in CR though, we found out that both the museum and butterfly park was not worth visiting. And at the spur of the moment we decided to hire our guide to lead us to the mountainous region to the south to try our luck to see and possibly photograph the most colorful bird in Central America, the quetzal.
So, we got up, checked out and left the hotel at 4:00AM. We drove to the mountainous region to the south for approximately 2 hours. We arrived early enough and saw only a few folks there. More and more started to arrive and by 6:45, around 25-30 photographers and/or bird enthusiast gathered there at the location in anticipation.
One of the main foods of quetzals is wild avocado. Those are tiny fruits that they swallow whole and regurgitate the pits somewhere else. That helps the propagation of the tree.. So, everybody was focusing on a wild avocado tree some 120 feet or so away from the dirt road but there is a fence right there for protection of the quetzal's habitat. We were repeatedly warned not to use fill-in flash.
Close to 7:00AM, a pair of quetzals, a male and female, showed up and folks started to move around and to change position for the best view. The quetzals snatched those tiny fruits in flight, and perched on a branch while "digesting". They did that a several times and in about 10-15 or so, the show was over and they flew away.
The first image here is the entire frame and I got lucky that the male quetzal was not only facing me but he was pretty much unobstructed but also framed by the branches/leaves/fruits he favors. The two hanging fruits with reddish stem at the upper border above the quetzal are the wild avocados. The second image is a crop of the same image. Actually, this is literally the last image of the series I took that morning. The other 2 were actually captured earlier and from a different position when it flew from one spot to another while feeding.
After the quetzal feeding time was over, then it was our turn to have our breakfast at a nearby place . We are counting our blessing, the quetzal is awesome and well worth the visit.
p.1 #5 · Resplendent quetzal - an unplanned encounter
All the images are very nice, Joshua. Because I prefer environmental images, I like the first one of the male best. I like all the complex detail framing the bird--the style reminds me of the naturalist etchings that were popular in Victorian times. However, if I were going to print it to hang on the wall, I'd be tempted to clone out that one prominent flower cluster near the bird's head.
I continue to be impressed by the quality of the images you have been getting from the Sony 7RM2. Aside from the excellent image quality, how well is the Canon lens working with this camera?
---John
p.1 #9 · Resplendent quetzal - an unplanned encounter
surfnron wrote:
Super shots Joshua ~ Ron
Thank you very much, Ron!
jdc562 wrote:
All the images are very nice, Joshua. Because I prefer environmental images, I like the first one of the male best. I like all the complex detail framing the bird--the style reminds me of the naturalist etchings that were popular in Victorian times. However, if I were going to print it to hang on the wall, I'd be tempted to clone out that one prominent flower cluster near the bird's head.
I continue to be impressed by the quality of the images you have been getting from the Sony 7RM2. Aside from the excellent image quality, how well is the Canon lens working with this camera?
---John...Show more →
Thank you very much, John! While there I wish I could have either come closer or I have had a longer lens. I did have my crop camera for a little more reach but I felt that the opportunity was fleeting and I didn't want to miss it. So, I just stuck with what I have but in retrospect, just like you, I also like that environmental image showing more of the surrounding and with the cropping power of the file, I could isolate the quetzal in PP without sacrificing much. In the image of the entire frame, I wouldn't mind the flower stalk to the right of the quetzal. But in another version of the crop I actually cloned that out. For this post, however, I figured, I might as well posted the intact version as I did for the entire frame, and I left the crop intact, as well.
p.1 #15 · Resplendent quetzal - an unplanned encounter
1 and 4 are wall hangers for sure, #1 is over the top.
Great environment and comp., I would like to see it without the darkening of the surrounding area.
I know it makes the bird pop but it looks to artificial IMO.
p.1 #19 · Resplendent quetzal - an unplanned encounter
tfoltz wrote:
1 and 4 are wall hangers for sure, #1 is over the top.
Great environment and comp., I would like to see it without the darkening of the surrounding area.
I know it makes the bird pop but it looks to artificial IMO.
-Tim
Hi Tim, thank you for your kind words. I agree with you on the darkening the edges. I did it for the image showing the entire frame and that's one of the reasons I included the crop without that effect.
. We are counting our blessing, the quetzal is awesome and well worth the visit.
The perfect location.
Yup, it happens quite a bit. Thanks, Eric!