Fork-tailed Flycatcher

[Kester Clarke]

Went looking to get some shots of Black-faced Tanager, but they were elusive. These flycatchers, though, like to perch out in the open waiting for their next meal to fly by.

Thanks for looking.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II
EF500mm f/4L IS USM
ƒ/5.6, 500.0mm, 1/2000s, ISO500

[Richard Flack]

What an awesome bird Kester, I really like the simplicity of this image. Nice thin perch, great BG and a great subject. I would be tempted to do a slightly closer crop if the IQ allows. TFS

[Mike Poole]

Fantastic bird, never seen one of these before. I can see where Richard is coming from with his crop idea, but it will be difficult to go too much closer because of the tail.

Very nice shot overall

[John Robinson]

Great bird and the shot does it proud Kester I reckon the only alt crop could be a long pano. Good as is though in my humbl opinion.
John

[gail bisson]

This is a good image to highlight the choices/difficulty of composition for birds with long tails.
You have great light and a great BG and a simple but beautiful perch.
I played with the comp quite a bit using the browser scroll and a piece of paper and my suggestion would be to try putting the bird in the upper LHC as per the rule of thirds. (Take a chunk off LHS and a bit off the top)
This image has so many comp options that it will be fun to see everyone's thoughts.
Gail

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Lovely clean shot of a beautiful bird, Kester! Lots of comments about cropping. I think I would have lowered it just a bit, placing the bird just above the bottom 3rds horizontal line. Other than that the crop is perfect IMHO.

[Kester Clarke]

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I've taken a bit off the top and the left.

[gail bisson]

I really like this comp!

[Robert Kimbrell]

A great Flycatcher. Very nice head turn and background, I prefer the second crop.

[Jim Crosswell]

Beautiful image Kester. I like the delicate perch, BG, pose and composition in the repost.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Gorgeous bird, perfect exposure and pose. I vote for the repost too. Super BG and a nice dainty perch. Very nicely done Kester.

[Diane Miller]

Gorgeous! I could see a little more off the bottom, too. Looks like you have great IQ to work with!

[arash_hazeghi]

repost is a big improvement.I would go even tighter to focus on details of this cute little bird. light was great

TFS

[Jonathan Ashton]

Great pose and nicely processed. I rather like the original post it seems to portray the moment to me, the tighter crop is good but has lost the setting as it were for me.

[Kester Clarke]

Great pose and nicely processed. I rather like the original post it seems to portray the moment to me, the tighter crop is good but has lost the setting as it were for me.

You described it well. It was a wide open grassy field. The natural perch was isolated and one of the tallest things around.
This weekend I hope to go back to this location and setup my own perches to see if they'll take to it.

[Arthur Morris]

The crop is much stronger. Love the head turn and the resulting detail and of course that killer BKGR. Here is a belated welcome to BPN; thanks for your membership support.

later and love, artie

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image. Nothing is left to add more in the above feed backs.
Love the frame.

Regards,
Satish.