Pintailed Whydah

[Stu Bowie]

Tiny little fellow. I took this is in the nature reserve close to my house last weekend. The BG is OOF grass.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/640
F/5.6
ISO 400

Exp Comp +0.67
Hand held from the car.

[Harshad Barve]

what a species , fabulous shot , lovely expo and compo looks great , killer BG
TFS

[Betsie Storm]

Nice one, Stuart, like the over-the-shoulder pose and sharp eye. They do not often sit quietly- was he cold in the recent overcast/drizzly weather? Was this at Rietvlei? Betsie.

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Stuart: Reminds me of a scissor-tailed flycatcher that we had on our farm this spring. Its hard to get a close shot of birds like this and still include the tail in the entire frame. You've done it as nicely as possible with your composition. I also like the buttery bokeh and the rust-colored stem. Thanks for sharing yet another bird with which I'm unfamiliar.

[Ilija Dukovski]

Lovely, great bird, nice HA, perch very appropriate considering the thin long tail.
Do I see a bluish cast or is the plumage naturally bluish on this bird?
I woul clone out that little branch just below the bird.
Very nice image overall.

[Danny J Brown]

Ilija: It looks like it might be perched on that little branch.

[Ilija Dukovski]

Ilija: It looks like it might be perched on that little branch.
Oh, yeah, didn't notice that. Thanks,

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

What a spectacular species....and the perfect perch and BG for it. Absolutely stunning photo.

Its hard to compose the way he is postioned...the only thing I can suggest is a square crop. If you dont have more space in orig, this is an easy BG to drag and create more canvas on both sides. If your ethics allow that.

KD

[Fabs Forns]

Very dynamic composition for a great looking bird. BG works really well and I like the crop as is.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Cool bird, I'm not sure I have seen this species before. I like the head turn, sharpness and BG and only wish beak and branch would not merge. I would try to remove the magenta cast.

[Morkel Erasmus]

you framed him beautifully in the diagonal with that long tail, and the H/A is perfect IMO since he is looking back and you already have the space for the tail. pin sharp with great exposure. I really need to visit Rietvlei again sometime...

[arash_hazeghi]

What a long tail! Nice BG and perch, I see the infamous magenta cast.

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all so much for the kind words.

Betsie, yes, this was Rietvlei.

Axel, Arash, thanks for pointing out the cast. I have upgraded the firmware. Please let me know where you are seeing it - the chest area, or in the BG. I see a slight cast in the whites.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Axel, Arash, thanks for pointing out the cast. I have upgraded the firmware. Please let me know where you are seeing it - the chest area, or in the BG. I see a slight cast in the whites.

I see it in the whites.

[denise ippolito]

Stuart, Really cool species and I love the pose. Nice details and perch. I might take a small sliver off the top if it were mine. Fantastic BG.

[James Salywoda]

WOW! This is such a beautiful bird i really like the long tail Excellent shot Stuart.

[Clement Francis]

Amazing picture of this beautiful bird. Most times the wonderful avian wonders of Africa is forgotten due to its mammals wonders

[John Ippolito]

Stuart, I really like the species, pose, light and detail. Well done indeed.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack for all your comments and feedback. I appreciate it.

[Rob Drummond]

Lovely shot Stuart, thanks for posting. Fond memories of two years teaching in Zimbabwe and this was the first species I recorded in the backyard. Needless to say it whettted my appetite for the next two years!
Like the head turn and the simplicity of the shot.

cheers
Rob