Female and male - perfect couple made in nature. European bee-eater (Merops apiaster). Wildlife, Hungary 2019-05.
Female and male - perfect couple made in nature. European bee-eater (Merops apiaster). Wildlife, Hungary 2019-05.
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Fall Award 2020
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Behind The Lens
Location
I created this photo during my expedition to Hungary in May 2019. I took a great opportunity to visit Maté Bence's hides and photograph rare birds at the beginning of their nesting season.Time
This was taken from hiding on May 21, 2019 at 10:43 am.Lighting
There was a continuous thin cloud that gave the scene a soft diffuse light. Therefore on the feathers are no significant highlights and colours are rich and vivid.Equipment
I worked with my favourite very good digital camera Nikon D850 and with my old zoom lens Nikkor 200-400 f/4,0. I worked with a tripod, from hide through a special mirror glass.Inspiration
I love nature and especially wild animals. Visiting Hungary and photographing bird species that rarely live in my country was my long-held dream. I wanted to see with my own eyes these birds that I saw when I was a little boy.Editing
I love natural photos. Shots without big adjustments. I try to capture all my photos so I do not have to use the post-processing. I know it is very modern and trendy today, but I do not work with PS or LR or other sophisticated post-processing software. I invoke my NEF only in Nikon View and Nikon Capture and make only minor edits. Maybe my photos could be even more attractive, but I'm a documentary photographer and I want to create interesting shots that show the true reality. I leave creative adjustments to other talented creators of graphic works.In my camera bag
The contents of my robust Tamrac bag is primarily a powerful digital camera that I can rely on in every weather. Now I'm normally using the body Nikon D6 and the backup body Nikon D850. I normally wear Nikkor lenses 24-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8. These "workers" have always been with me. On the "macro" action I take the excellent old micro lens Nikkor 200 f/4 or newest micro lens 105 f/2,8. For animals and birds photography I need to pack "heavier weight" - I'm using the lens Nikkor 200 f/2, Nikkor 300 f/2,8 and now also a new zoom lens Nikkor 180-400 f/4. And the last two years I also use mirrorless camer Nikon Z 7 with my old fast lenses.Feedback
When it comes to photographing the endangered animal species, I recommend the form of "assisted (arranged) photography". It's about photographing a species of wild animal that is in human care. The animal is tame, working well with it, and it is especially safe for humans. Most importantly, the photographer does not disturb wild animals in their natural biotope. Today there is a trend commercial group photographic expeditions to exotic countries. From the yield is funded the rescue of endangered animal species. But too frequent visits of groups of people in animal biotopes are very disturbing and stressful for endangered animals and their food chain. These expeditions can become very destructive for small animal populations and, instead of rescuing animals, can speed their extinction. We all photographers have to think, whether our money really helps those animals.