Lilac-breasted Roller

[Chris van Rooyen]

I captured this image in the Kruger National Park last year. I never grow tired of photographing these spectacular birds, although they are quite common. I was lucky to get the eye contact:D

Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Date/Time: 2007:09:10 07:46:42
Shutter speed: 1/3200 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Exposure mode: Av
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 400
Focal length: 500mm

[Fabs Forns]

Eye contact????/ That bird is talking to you!!!

I wouldn't get tired of them either, they are stunning. I like everything about this image, and the inclusion of the perch is a good grounding element and adds the story.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Very cool pose, details and direct eye contact. I might try to lighten the shadow of the beak.

[Doug Brown]

Beautiful photo Chris! Love the eye contact and wing position! Sharpness is as good as we've come to expect from you!

[Beth Goffe]

I was hoping that one of the Lilac Breasted Roller images coming through here would show the beautiful blue deep blue on the backs of their wings and this one does (I only saw it when they flew away from us). It's a beautiful image and the eye contact is tops. I agree with Axel about softening the shadow from the bill, if possible.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Love it as is, BG, colors, and the pose is amazing! Congrats!

[Phil Liew]

That is one spectacular shot, brilliant timing and congratulations!

[Kaushik Balakumar]

Absolutely fantastic. Well 'freezed' shot.

[David Steele]

The best LBR image I've ever seen, Chris, and it shows off the spectacular colours so well. No nits from me.

[Glenn Bartley]

Amazing flight image of this species. Your stuff is just too good!

[Sharna Lee]

WOW! Amazing capture here. The colors are excellent. Eye contact as fabs has stated is stunning! This bird is talking to you. Tack sharp and well composed. All around excellent image here.

Sharna

[Marko Matesic]

Fantastic capture.....eye contact is great!

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Congratulations Chris on catching one of these beauties in flight. I saw many while visiting Kenya but never had the opportunity to get a flight image. Love the flight pose and the wonderful eye contact. Love it !!

[Lance Peters]

Great job - love that eye contact

[Maxis Gamez]

Excellent capture and head turn. I would tone down the blues a little! Congrats!

[Arsdel Fluesmeier]

That is a spectacular capture. Everything about it is good. Eye contact is great.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Thanks for the comments guys, appreciated. Maxis, I hear what you say, but these birds actually look like this, there colours are beyond believe:-)

[hans stel]

Wonderful!!!!

[Maxis Gamez]

Thanks for the comments guys, appreciated. Maxis, I hear what you say, but these birds actually look like this, there colours are beyond believe:-)

Hi Chris,

I love BPN, I get to learn something new everyday!

Thank you and still love it! :)

[David Hemmings]

Common???? Send some up here! This is awesome, great image!

[Loukie Viljoen]

Yes the blue is magnificent, so much so that one of the indigenous chiefs, Moselekatse actually used them as a wedding gift for a new bride, but as they were polygamous it nearly caused the demise of the species in Natal, nobody else was allowed to use these blue feathers. Brilliant shot Chris, please take me with next time!!!