Australasian Darter

[Colin Driscoll]

This will likely come as a shock, but this photo recently won the portrait prize in the 2023 BirdLife Australia Photography Photography Awards.
https://www.birdlifephotoaward.org.au/gallery-winners-2023

Taken in 2020 Canon EOS-1D X Mark III EF 600 f4 III 1..4x III 840 mm HH
1/1600 f6.3 iso1600 ev +0.7

The unvarnished critiques I get here contributed to this shot and I thank you all.
Apologies for the many learning posts that I make, but the responses are helpful.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Yes! This works for me, the Darter obviously has to have excellent eyesight and the image concentrates on the eyes. The other very important piece of "equipment" is the bill and the way it is focussed exemplifies the manner in which it used.

[Daniel Cadieux]

This works extremely well for me as well! Critical focus is spot-on, and the amount of blurring on the neck and body is just right. Well-balanced comp too. The only thing I would change is to fill in the slim vertical gap between subject and frame at lower left edge. Other than that, super well done, and congrats on the prize earned with this image!

[Dorian Anderson]

Yeah, this is a really engaging and unique image! The bird looks like an alien! I could totally see this in a contest. The wide, curious eyes are sharp as can be! The OOF body looks massive; it's such a cool effect. Bravo.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Wow! What a unique, 3D image. Congrats on the well deserved win.

[Ian McLachlan]

This is a quite unique image Colin . Those eyes are the most 'arresting' I have seen on this sight in 10 plus years. Deserves the award .

[Colin Driscoll]

Thanks, all

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Colin, I'm a little late to this party, that said I like the image. Nicely done, focus where it needs to be, a different image in a good way. Thank you for sharing.