African Stonechat singing

[Victor Soares]

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/8580/stonechatafrican01.jpg

This is the male of the species. Usually quite tricky and quick to jut from stem to stem - I got lucky with this one. Photographed from inside my car, out the passenger window, while sitting in the driver's seat. Handheld.

Background is dry grassland with a burnt patch.

Canon 40D
Canon 400L f5.6
ISO 640
Exp +1/3
SS 1/1600
f 5.6

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Beautiful singing pose and stunning bg!!!

[Lorant Voros]

South Africa is one of the nicest places I have ever been. Love the nature there. Nice bird, singing pose, perch, BG. Does it need a little bit of rotation? Congrats.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Beautiful bird, great singing pose and hanging on to a nice perch. Must be cropped quite a bit seeing that you photographed from across the inside of the car? If the details can take it I would crop some more above.

[Morkel Erasmus]

nice one of a very nippy character Victor! dig the open beak, BG and overall comp. agree some slight CW rotation needed and I would selectively sharpen the head and eye some more...

[Michael Zajac]

Nice sharp bird. I like the BG. and the pose. Would like a tighter crop.

[Harshad Barve]

beautiful bird, details , perch , HA & BG ,
May crop it tight a little bit
TFS

[Dave Barnes]

Hi Vic.
Good colour and detail. I agree with Daniel on the crop. Nice capture.

[Victor Soares]

Thanks everyone for the comments and the advice !! Cheers

[Kiran Poonacha]

Great pose, loved the singing action, the perch and light work well too,,, congrats..

[David Fletcher]

Wonderful calling pose and light Victor. Bg to die for! tad tighter crop as mentioned will enhance further. WD!

[Victor Soares]

Thanks Kiran and David !!

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Vic, I like the pose with the open beak. Well exposed colours, and what a killer BG. Rietvlei?

[Victor Soares]

Marievale Stu .... thanks for the comments !

[Gal Shon]

That is a beautiful image,
Pose, perch and BG are all superb.
Agree with Daniel regarding tighten the frame a little bit.

[Victor Soares]

Thanks Gal ! I have since taken some suggestions into consideration and camee up with a better image - thanks all !