I adore young Emus. There is something so innocent and curious about them.
1/640, f/5.6, ISO 1600, focal length 526mm
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
I especially love the pastel colours in this shot, the soft greens and greys of the background as well as the beaut colours and patterns on the Emu’s neck – it looks as though I’ve been wielding an artist’s brush. The effect is purely from the colours themselves and the shallow depth of field which has kept the Emu’s eye and bill sharp while giving a softer effect to its feathers. Emus have double-shafted feathers which are fascinating to find and make it obvious how emu-wrens got their name.
Its bill is a bit muddy where it has been foraging on the ground and its sharp eye, in two senses of the word, has a beaut catchlight despite the overcast day. Shooting at 1/640th is slow for bird photography, and seriously slow when I’m handholding a long lens! I feel very lucky to have captured this shot.
We are freer in Melbourne than we have been for a while but the months and months of lockdown have seen me go from being desperate to travel to feeling quite numb about it. It’s a bit disconcerting in a way as I’ve been a lifelong wanderer but I’m sure it’ll unfold in a healthy way when the time is right. Which might be as soon as an opportunity arises, who knows in these strange times!
Happy birding, stay safe, Kim
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This is such a cute bird Kim its spectacular!
I’m glad you like it Tess 🙂
I hear you Kim, numb has been my word for this lockdown, feeling in a void and everything is just noise on the other side of the glass. Today I’m staying home – because I choose to – until the ‘freedom’ madness settles down.
Having said all that I’d much rather focus on the beautiful shot of the emu, looking fresh like any youngster just out of the bath, so cuddle-able. Thanks for sharing the sweet perfect image
I wonder how many of us are feeling this way Syndy, it’s definitely been a challenging time for most of us. I’m so glad you like the emu shot. I feel like I need to keep looking at it for some reason. And regarding your HeHo question, yes definitely! Can you send an email? I have an idea that might work.
This young bird is an absolute beauty. And your capture is indeed a work of art.
I am glad that your lockdown is lifting. We too are now in lockdown lite. I am cautiously optimisitic and hope that your spirits and energy lift. And that birds present themselves to you (and by so doing to us).
Thanks EC. I hope things improve for the ACT and that you will soon be able to be out and about as usual. I’m going well, it’s just the weirdness around travel… I guess that’s a pretty common feeling at the moment, people are either already in their cars driving as far as they can, or still feeling somewhat cloistered. Strange times indeed.