New Holland Honeyeater - Grass Tree Flower
Grass Tree Flower with pollinator, New Holland Honeyeater. The Grampians, Victoria, Australia
Grass Tree Flower with pollinator, New Holland Honeyeater. The Grampians, Victoria, Australia
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Jul, 2016Views
557
Likes
Awards
Winner in Honeyeaters Photo Challenge
Superb Composition
Peer Award
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1Categories
Platinum
AshThomson
January 29, 2017
A lovely example of a New Holland Honey-eater doing it's thing! Well done winning my challenge! Cheers Ash
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Behind The Lens
Location
I visited a friends property in the Black Range, near Stawell, Victoria, Australia. White Gums Australia is nestled amongst exposed granite boulders on 78 hectares with views to Mt William, Grampians National Park and surrounded by beautiful and expansive native gardens; wonderful wildlife and an extensive bird list. There is a huge variety of dryland native plant species. It has B&B accommodation in the expansive native plant gardens. The gardens are a protected area with the opportunity to get close to a range of birds that can be difficult to approach or even find in the bush.Time
Mid-September at 4:30 in the afternoon. You can't always choose your time to take photographs. Opportunities present themselves at all times day or night. The trick is to get great shots anytime and under all conditions.Lighting
A somewhat overcast day would not usually result in great photographs. The high contrast predominantly black and white subject compensated for otherwise flattish light.Equipment
Shot with a Canon 7D Mark 11, 100-400 IS 11 USM, set at 400mm, 1000 ISO, 1/500 at f/8. I use a very compact Cullman shoulder stock. I always shoot RAW.Inspiration
I am a wildlife artist and photographer so birds are a major inspiration.Editing
This is a raw image cropped to about 1/3rd of the frame. Processed in Lightroom. +11 Whites, -5 Blacks, Clarity +20, Vibrance +13. Sharpening 27 Masking 74. Noise Reduction. Luminance 48, Detail 16, Contrast 17. Most of the above setting adjustments are part of a preset that I apply to all shots on importing. I then adjust images as required.In my camera bag
I am a Wildlife Artist and Photographer I chose the 7D for the extra magnification on the crop sensor. My carry on camera bag for travels weighs 14kg. It contains all my essential Camera gear including laptop, card reader, chargers, hard drives, Variable ND and PL filter, cables, shoulder stock, .... Shooting with a Canon 7D and 7D Mark11, 100-400 1:4.5-5.6 L IS 11 USM. & 24-105 1:4.Feedback
Birds are creatures of habit and shooting from a bird hide can result in great shots even with a relatively short lens. However, I tend to stalk my subjects. It requires quick camera adjustments but adds variety to images. A hide tends to limit the various options and angles. My preference is to photograph wild creatures and often the encounters can be brief. By comparison, the wildlife in gardens, picnic grounds, and camp sites are often habituated to human activity. I often find myself surrounded by birds including hopping between my legs. When on safari I have my camera with me at all times. Many rare opportunities present themselves at meal times.
