Darter Pose

[Stu Bowie]

These guys always seem to produce great poses, and with the afternoon light, I managed to capture some good detail too. Taken a while back in the Pilanesberg nature reserve. The BG is water.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 340mm
1/1000
F/8.0
ISO 400

Exp comp 0
Hand held

[James Salywoda]

Gorgeous head shot the bird stands-out nicely against that bg.

[arash_hazeghi]

This is excellent Stuart, outstanding details and what a nice BG. well done

[Bob Kothenbeutel]

Nicely done Stuart!
Bob

[Arthur Morris]

Nicely done Stuart!Bob

Bob, If you like an image, please let us know why. Thanks.

The image is so sharp that it almost looks cut out. I like the image design and the perfect EXP. With the head turned slightly away, the eye needs to be lightened...

All are invited to check out my recent comments on Head Angle in an ER thread here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/showthread.php?63575-Head-Angle-Philosophies....&p=542692#post542692

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The light, sharpness and BG make this one for me, interesting composition, too. Could you have moved a bit to your left for a better head angle?

[Stu Bowie]

The light, sharpness and BG make this one for me, interesting composition, too. Could you have moved a bit to your left for a better head angle?

Thanks Axel. Yes I could have, and I have a lot of different images of this guy, in all sorts of poses.

Thanks to everyone else too for the great feedback

[denise ippolito]

Stuart, Beautiful sharp details and lighting. I love the curved neck.

[Arno Ellmer]

Good one Stuart .The sharpness and exp. is awesome ,and I like the characteristic posture of the head/neck captured here. :)

[Gal Shon]

Details, light and BG are excellent.
A 3:2 cut will look even better I think, with a bit less air on the sides.

[Fabs Forns]

Wow, that curve of the neck with the sheen on the feathers really makes this one for me. Great EXO control, detail, catch light and BG. Way to go!

[Markus Jais]

Fantastic shot. Great sharpness and details and a wonderful BG. I especially like the form of the bird's long neck. Composition is very good, too.

Markus

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all so much for the kind words. Much appreciated.

[Kiran Poonacha]

Its a beauty, loved the colours and details on this one..

[Victor Soares]

Yep the detail on the neck makes this shot for me. I assume this was taken from the Mankwe hide but at 340mm focal distance you must have swam up to it !! Great colours, detail and the folded neck is superb - very well done Stu !!

[Stu Bowie]

Kiranbhai, Vic, thanks a stack guys.