Some of my favourite images, including this beautiful juvenile Grey Fantail are currently displayed at a beaut cafe in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Juvenile Fantail – Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)
1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 1600
Adult Grey Fantails lose the warm rufous colouring that I adore in this young bird. I can still hardly believe that I was able to capture an image like this. There are so many times when a bird lands on an ugly perch, or when the background is distracting or when the exposure isn’t perfect, or the focus is off – there are so many things that can and do go wrong when photographing birds. It makes it extra special when everything lines up so beautifully. I was rapt to get the bird’s tail when it was fanned so widely, a fraction of a second later and I would have missed it. And the sprinkles, on the cream, on the cake came when the fantail made eye contact without being entirely sure what was lurking beneath the camouflaged cloth.
Grey Fantails are tiny aerobatic acrobats that are about 15cm long, with much of that being their tails, and they weigh about 9g.
The online version of this image is 400kb while the file I used for printing is 62Mb. over 100 times larger – the printed detail is exquisite.
If you live within a cooee of Ferntree Gully, or if you’re looking for a special gift (or an excellent lunch) you might like to visit the Chosen Bean Cafe at Mountain Gate, 11a Ferntree Gully Road. The displayed images are matted, framed and printed using quality pigment inks on 100% cotton rag, fine art archival paper.
Happy birding
Kim
PS A range of images will be displayed until the end of January
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Hi Kim, Wow! 62 mb file? Is that because of the type of camera you have? I know one must print from a raw file which of course is larger than jpeg. The reason I am asking is because someone is wanting me to do some bird prints and I want to do them as best quality as possible. I have a Nikon D3400 which has 24.2 mps.
By the way, love your photos and have your page bookmarked on my computer because you have a great way of explaining things.
Marg
Hi Marg, I use a 50.6mp camera for most of my images. You don’t have to print from a RAW file though it is best to shoot RAW. The main issue will be to make sure you don’t make the prints too big for your file sizes, check your pixels and get advice from your print company. Good luck with your project and I’m pleased to hear you enjoy visiting lirralirra, Kim
That’s a great picture. This juvenile is superb with his tousled and misplaced feathers. I like its colours, they are very beautiful.
Congratulations on this picture. 62 Mb, wow!
Hugs
All the best.
Thank you Nath. We are so lucky that technology lets us capture such exquisite details 🙂
PS I have just responded to your email
Read your newsletter email this morning and dashed off see your photographs. Great collection of images Kim! If you’re passionate about birds or just interested in photography I recommend a visit. As a bonus the food and coffee are excellent.
Wow, that’s fantastic Stephen! I’m so glad you enjoyed the images after dashing off so quickly, and am extra glad you enjoyed the cafe’s treats
Lucky cafe. And lucky patrons.
Viewing that acrobatic charmer would make anything taste better.
Your turn of phrase is always so apt and original, I hope you are working on a book of some kind
I love this image! All your work looks incredible exhibited. Can’t wait to visit the latest display!
Thank you, twice! I hope you enjoy your visit to the exhibition.
Hi Kim,
If you have taken the time to know where your subject will be and you are there waiting for it to appear whilst hiding from view, underneath camouflaged protection, then it is no accident that you have taken such a good image. Preparation is key to a good image and very well done on the exhibition, you obviously deserve the accolades.
Bruce
What a beaut comment Bruce, it sounds like you speak from experience, thank you
WOW! Just WOW!
That made me smile 🙂
What an exquisite photograph. The detail is amazing, so I’m sure the little Fantail is sitting right beside me. I am planning a trip to the Chosen Bean Cafe soon.
That’s lovely Margot, I’m glad you like the image and hope you have a beaut visit to the cafe