Long tailed Widow bird

[Stu Bowie]

I posted one of these guys a while back against a sky BG, and said my dream shot would be against a foliage BG. Whilst not the best flight pose, Im taking it until I get a better one. Taken early yesterday morning in overcast conditions at my local reserve close to my house. Its not easy trying to track these guys from a car.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300 F/2.8 +2X TC = 600mm
1/1000
F/6.3
ISO 800

Exp comp +0.67
hand held from my car

[Jamie Douglas]

Super image Steve and what a great looking species. Maybe it's just late but the blacks look like they could be opened up a touch more? WDYT?

Jamie

[vishaljadhav]

One of my friend has a image of this guy and told me the story of the bird just goes with the wind
the black bird with the soft green bg pops out, red and white help it seperate nicely
The wing open position and that wonderful tail looks good
Black on the wings look good to me.

[Martin Dunn]

great in flight shot Stuart.

Love the spread of the wings and the tail feathers. the red shoulder patches add a nice bit of colour.
I like what you've done with the grass; retaining a bit of detail but achieving a lovely soft BG.

[Alan Murphy]

So cool. Love the size the bird is in the frame.

[Stu Bowie]

I like what you've done with the grass; retaining a bit of detail but achieving a lovely soft BG.

Thanks Martin. The BG grasses are actually untouched, so no 'softening' done to the upper half of the grasses.

Thank you everyone else for your feedback.

[Richard Flack]

Awesome image Stuart. Love these guys. Well done!

[gail bisson]

I am so happy for you that you got this beauty against grasses. I know you have been trying.
And even better you got it with your new lens!
I wonder if you can pull a bit more detail out of the blacks?
I like the environment very much and the composition as well.
I could also see a version with the 2 grasses intersecting the body cloned out.
Well done,
Gail

[Holger Leyrer]

It is the first time that i see this wonderfull bird. Congratulation to this image

[Jamie Douglas]

:e3Hey Stuart excuse me from calling you Steve :eek3:

[Arthur Morris]

Inanely beautiful. Everything flows and the dorsal view is wonderful.

[Bill Dix]

Nice work tracking this guy against the grassy BG. Amazing bird, and beautifully captured.

[Stu Bowie]

:e3Hey Stuart excuse me from calling you Steve :eek3:

No problem Jamie.

[David Salem]

I loved your last one of this species and this one is nice too. Great that you got a non blue BG for him to pose against and the pose is cool too. Well done Stuart and congrats on getting closer to your goal.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Lovely shot Stu - it will take something extra special to top this version! The detail and the shape of the bird is exquisite.

[Satish Ranadive]

Extremely beautiful flight pose, Stuart Sir.
Love every in the frame.

Regards,
Satish.

[Shawn Zierman]

I totally agree with all the compliments offered so far on this beautiful bird image. Love the setting!