Perching

[Stu Bowie]

This is a White-throated Swallow, and it was captured at a Wetlands south of Johannesburg. This perch was directly infront of the hide and the sun was directly behind me. The swallow's were going about their business of perching and taking off on different parts of the perch. It was only a matter of time that one would perch head on. Taken early morning.

Canon 1D Mark IV
100-400 @ 390mm
1/2500
F/7.1
ISO 800

Manual exposure

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Amazing shot Stu, Love the head-on pose and the techs are great as usual.

[Roy Priest]

Stu, lovely bird. Like the way the whites show lots of detail,the background and the full stretch pose.

[PhilCook]

Early morning light has taken this over the top Stuart, such a beautiful and well timed capture, wonderful wings and tail spread...especially like the spread tail ....lovely simplistic composition as well and well placed in the frame...I'm envious !

[Uri First]

excellent capture of an illusive bird. nice colours and details

[Jonathan Ashton]

Spot on Stu great timing and exposure, is it me or is there a thin line of noise along the front edge of both wings .......possibly the junction of sharpening & NR???

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Stuart - great colors, exp and light. The spread wings and tail really take this to another level. Techs are spot on as usual.

TFS,
Rachel

[Stu Bowie]

there a thin line of noise along the front edge of both wings .......possibly the junction of sharpening & NR???

Thanks Jon, had a look at the line you mentioned - looks like a bit of sloppy masking between sharpening and NR. Missed it, and thanks for pointing it out.

Thanks to everyone else for your feedback too.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Stuart - love the head on pose. Once you know what you're after you seem to do a great job of executing. The stare, along with the spread wing and tail definitely do it for me.

Miguel

[Dudley Watson]

Excellent image with great detail and timing. My choice would be to crop a little on LHS. Some of these swallows have blue in their tail feathers. Any significance?

[gail bisson]

Hi Stu,
I am going to go to he** in a hand basket for saying this but...
I hate that perch...:e3
The swallow is perfect- great wing extension, perfect "down the barrel" look, great fanned tail, awesome graduated BG and tack sharp but that perch bisects the bird in two. I keep looking at this image and thinking if only the perch wasn't there...
Don't hate me!!
Gail

[Corey Hayes]

Awesome shot Stuart.

[Tim King]

I'd love to see it without the perch. It's great as is but that perch looks in the way. And that BG is what we all look for.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Stuart, what a shot. good call on the high SS. loved the colors, details, the catchlights and the BG. Composition is excellent as usual.