Malachite Kingfisher at Sunset.

[Pieter de Waal]

85631

Posting something a little different. The RAW was a bit overexposed as I made a mistake on the settings with the dark background which is water in shade. Played around with levels and curves and managed something close to what I was trying to achieve in camera.

30D/EF500f4/f4@1/100/iso800/EC-0.33 - large crop about 25% of FF, levels, curves and rotation.A little cloning of bright areas in the water.

C&C most welcome.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Pieter, loved the composition. Very well seen. IQ has held up quite well in such a large crop for 30D. Loved the light and mood. If mine, I'd make small adjustment to the crop...leave as much space to the right of the bird tail as there is to the left of the perch.

[Aravind Krishnaswamy]

An inspiring composition with the leaf pointing down and the kingfisher on top. Lovely colors on the kingfisher also. Don't know if its an option but just a smidge more room on the right would be beneficial I think.

[Randy Stout]

Pieter:

I find this a very thought provoking image, which outweighs the minor tech. concerns

I actually like the balanced comp. you have, and am not sure it needs more to the right.

The effectiveness of the lighting is great.

Thanks for sharing, very striking.

Randy

[Dumay de Boulle]

Very nice Pieter...I like the mood you have in this image...There is also a good sense of balance!

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Excellent Pieter, love the dark BG, Excellent PS skill, comp is excellent but maybe bit more space to the left of the leaf TFS :cheers:

[Chris Kotze]

Super BG and colours. Lovely comp

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Pieter, tiny little characters to get decent images, unless you are right on top of them. Most have mentioned the balanced comp, I agree with that all the way. Good light on both the MK and the leaf, and both stand out nicely against the darker BG. Well captured.

[Pieter de Waal]

Thank you for all your feedback much appreciated. Will try the different comp suggestions thanks as I think the image can manage different layouts but I am also happy with this one for the reason mentioned by Randy and Dumay.

[Arne Purves]

I really like the composition. The leaf adds nice balance to the image.

[James Salywoda]

Awesome!!! Such a beautiful bird and I really like your composition.

[Pieter de Waal]

Thanks Arne and James, much appreciated.

[Hendri Venter]

An excellent presentation of this little beauty. Well done Pieter.