Flying Purple Galinule

[Michael Stern]

Hi, I followed this bird for a while as it walked between the reeds when it decided to fly and I was just barely able to get the camera up, focused and make the shot. A little behind however I think it works better that way as the wing colors show! You??
Michael

Camera Model: Canon EOS 40D
Shutter speed: 1/5000 sec
Aperture: 4.5
Exposure mode: Av
Exposure compensation: -2/3
Metering mode: Evaluative
ISO: 320
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Focal length: 500mm

[Randy Stout]

Michael:

Very colorful fellow.

I appreciate that the dorsal view of the near wing does show off the colors of the feathers pretty well.
The angle of the bird and the head angle do suffer from the timing of the shot. I know how hard it is sometimes to get the camera ready quickly enough.

The back wing is pretty well shrouded by the body, and its too bad the legs/feet have so much shadow, since they are such an important part of this birds look.

It looks like the nictitating membrane is partially closed, as the eye looks a bit funky.

Keep after them!

Randy

[Tony Whitehead]

Great grab shot, Michael. I like the colours and fluttering feathers on the wings. Randy's comments are good. Desaturating the reds a bit brings quite a bit more detail into the bill.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Pose and BG are great. Too bad the bird was not flying towards you.