Cape Barren Goose
This large and delicious bird has been almost exterminated several times over the last two hundred years since it came into contact with white man. These geese are surprisingly tame and quite easy to approach in the wild, probably because once you do get too close, they’ll suddenly turn and chase you away like any self-respecting, aggressive goose. Named after an island near Tasmania, it doesn’t even nest there but on smaller, outlying islands in Bass Strait.
The delicate colouration of the Cape Barren Goose, particularly the lime green cere, was always difficult to capture with older films. Velvia has done a good job in this instance, though it is still a bit warm. But then, look what this contrasty film did to the backlit grasses! It really enhanced their jewel-like sparkle. I always use a touch of TTL flash to give just the right amount of fill fo such a backlit scene, and to produce the required catchlight in the eye.
