Blue-crowned Motmot

[hans stel]

This picture was taken near Mount Chirripo, Costa Rica in 2005 when I just started my "photography carreer". I realy love this bird and therefore I am posting it. I realize that are a lot of branches in this picture, but I would like to know what you think about it...

Canon 10D Canon 100-400 at 400mm + tripod
1/320 F5.6 ISO200

[Doug Brown]

I love Motmots too, in particular the way they move their tail feathers like a pendulum. The bird is sharp and I don't mind the habitat BG. It's the branch running through the neck that bothers me. I would like a tighter crop, perhaps even a vertical one. I wish that the tail wasn't so obstructed by the perch. Thanks for posting!

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Congratulations on a beautiful image of the motmot. Excellent color and detail and so sharp. Doug had some good suggestions. Many thanks for sharing this with us Hans.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

I agree with you about this bird, they are very colorful birds and this is one of the most common ones of their species, but is not easy to come close to them since they are very shy. Very good work, the surroundings makes it look natural.

[hans stel]

Thank you for your suggestions and comments!

[Greg Basco]

Hans, this is a really nice habitat image, but I agree with Doug that the branch running through the neck is problematic. Besides that, I really like the lighting and composition.

Cheers,
Greg