Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

[Bill Dix]

I somehow forgot about this one when I posted a series of Bee-eaters several weeks ago. This was the fifth and final Bee-eater species we photographed during our 8 days in Botswana. (We missed the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater which at least theoretically should have been there.) This one is second -largest; only the Carmine is larger. It is a non-breeding paleartic migrant in Botswana, there only in the African summer months. Did some pruning of the perch.

D500, Sigma 150-600C @ 480mm; ISO 2500, 1/1600s @ f/6.3 manual; HH.

[John Mack]

Very nice. This works very well high key. Cool looking bird. Like the perch and the composition here.

[Glenn Pure]

I can't believe yet another bee-eater species from your trip, Bill. Detail looks very nice and up to your usual standard. Can't comment on colour but tonal range looks good and consistent with other bee-eaters I've seen. While I'm not usually a fan of washed out backgrounds, it does focus attention on the bird (and perch) and does fit the 'high key' theme.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Bill, you saw more Bee - eaters on your trip that I manage to see in my 'back yard'. The high key BG brings out the colours nicely, and you managed a good pose and HA. Colours look spot on.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Great high key capture, Bill. Nice and sharp and good shadow detail. Like the angled perch as well.

Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu (http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu)

[Bill Dix]

Thank you John, Glenn, Stu and Geoffrey.