Male Cape Sugarbird
This Cape Sugarbird appears to be proud of his particularly impressive tail.
This Cape Sugarbird appears to be proud of his particularly impressive tail.
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Sep, 2017Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
At Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town, South AfricaTime
It was mid-afternoon during a late winter day with scattered clouds. When the sun peaked through to shine of this protea bloom, the Cape Sugar Bird used it to display his signature tail as he sang in search of mates.Lighting
The subdued winter lighting played well off the foliage and blooms, so I preferred this shot to one with more direct, contrasty lighting.Equipment
It is a hand-held shot taken with a Lumix G8 with a 100 - 400 mm Leica lens.Inspiration
The Cape Sugar Bird is a striking species during mating season, when males grow tales that can be twice as long as their bodies. This fellow seemed to be ahead of the curve, since his tail is over twice the size of his body.Editing
The only post-processing was a bit of cropping.In my camera bag
I travel quite a bit and bought my Lumix G8, a micro four-thirds format camera, as the ideal compromise between image quality and weight. When I'm planning to photograph wildlife or birds, I carry the big 100 - 400 mm Leica that serves as a 200 - 800 mm equivalent lens when coupled with the micro 4/3 format. I rarely carry a tripod, so good image stabilization is key. In addition to the long lens, I also carry two small, light Panasonic lenses -- a fast 40 mm prime and a 14 - 140 mm zoom. Between the three, I feel ready for whatever may pop up.Feedback
Cape Sugar Birds mate in the early spring, so the period at the end of winter to the beginning of spring is the best time to spot them. Their favorite food is the nectar of the various species of protea, so look for them on blooms.
