I love toucans. To me, they’re iconic of the tropics and few things make me as happy as seeing one flying through the treetops. The keel-billed toucan (otherwise known as the rainbow-billed toucan) is among the most spectacular of these spectacular birds. Like yesterday’s sloth, this one was photographed in Soberania National Park in Panama. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/800th of a second.
Yeah, it’s a great place. And you don’t have to go far from the major city of Panama to get to the wildlife. Soberania National Park is less than an hour away. I’ve been thinking about organizing a wildlife tour to visit both the rainforests and coastal areas.
Great shot, as usual! I often click on your images to activate the zoom-in feature for a closer look. I always love the tighter framing as much as the wide. What is your criteria when choosing a wider rather than a tighter framing?
Thanks Clark. And good question. The Holy Grail for me is when I’m able to get what is essentially a landscape shot, but with an animal strategically placed within the frame — preferable with my wide angle lens. Of course, all the conditions have to be right for such a shot. I have to be able to get close, the animal can’t be lost in the composition, the light has to be perfect, etc. When that isn’t possible (which is most of the time) I like to go tight to eliminate distracting elements like an unattractive background and less than stellar light. In this instance, I was at the long limit of my zoom lens so not exactly the scenario described above, but I did like all that blurred green environment in the background.
Sean, I love the composition of this piece: the background is blurred, but the larger dark trees in the forefront essentially frame the toucan, reflecting his place in the broader forest. A large shock of color in an even larger expanse–lovely.
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“Panama” just moved up another notch on my bucket list!
Yeah, it’s a great place. And you don’t have to go far from the major city of Panama to get to the wildlife. Soberania National Park is less than an hour away. I’ve been thinking about organizing a wildlife tour to visit both the rainforests and coastal areas.
Well, you DID enjoy eating Froot Loops for breakfast when you were a kid and the toucan was their logo.
True, but if you recall I was always more of a Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Frankenberry fan.
Great shot, as usual! I often click on your images to activate the zoom-in feature for a closer look. I always love the tighter framing as much as the wide. What is your criteria when choosing a wider rather than a tighter framing?
Thanks Clark. And good question. The Holy Grail for me is when I’m able to get what is essentially a landscape shot, but with an animal strategically placed within the frame — preferable with my wide angle lens. Of course, all the conditions have to be right for such a shot. I have to be able to get close, the animal can’t be lost in the composition, the light has to be perfect, etc. When that isn’t possible (which is most of the time) I like to go tight to eliminate distracting elements like an unattractive background and less than stellar light. In this instance, I was at the long limit of my zoom lens so not exactly the scenario described above, but I did like all that blurred green environment in the background.
Sean, I love the composition of this piece: the background is blurred, but the larger dark trees in the forefront essentially frame the toucan, reflecting his place in the broader forest. A large shock of color in an even larger expanse–lovely.
Thanks Laura. Yes, it’s that pop of bright color that is so compelling to observe in the wild. Same reason I love all those colorful tree frogs.
I like this shot.