Carmine Beeater

[Ken Watkins]

Taken in Mapula Concession, Northern Botswana, 16th March 2009

EOS 1D MkIII

500mm F4 IS hand-held

F4.5, 1/1000, ISO 1600, EV + 2/3rds

Roughly the middle 1/3rd of frame

[Graham Smith.]

nice shot Ken. A very beautiful subject and you have good sharp eye contact. I don't mind the over-the-shoulder look as it present the colourful plumage well. I think the perch is unfortunate as I find the tip protruding from the bird a bit distracting.

[Stu Bowie]

Great subject Ken, with a lovely pose. I like the feather detail on this too. Comp wise, I would maybe move him to the left a bit so that the perch is just slightly away from the frame.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Beautiful bird and good head turn. I sharpened the bird some more and adjusted the midtones. What is sticking out on the left side of the body, a thorn? I find the bright branches in the BG a bit distracting.

[Mark Dumbleton]

Super shot Ken. I like the over the shoulder look too. I feel the image is a tad flat from the overcast clouds muting the light. I would add a touch contrast to give it a bit more punch. Well done

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks for advice, the item sticking out of the left hand side is I presume part of the perch.

[Fabs Forns]

Very nice colors and head turn, improved by Axel's repost. Could you have moved to your right or left to avoid the very light branches or weeds in the BG?

[Ken Watkins]

Here is a repost taking into account the suggeations and advice received, I started again from RAW.
Reeds are everywhere in the Okavango Delta area, and are virtually inpossible to avoid in particular after the rains when they are extremely tall. I did try to take them out but thought the result was "unnatural".