Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill.

[Stu Bowie]

This was taken at a picnic spot in the Kruger National Park. He was sitting on a low fence, so I went for a portrait shot. These guys like to scavenge food from visitors. This is a slightly different image from my previous one, as the BG is different.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/800
F/8.0
ISO 400

Exp Comp 0
Hand held

[Arno Ellmer]

Great portrait,Stu,with good HA,sharpness and super bg.
Pity no catchlight in eye.

[Randy Stout]

Stuart:

Great character in these guys.
Good feather detail, like the fluffed look on the neck.
Excellent head angle for me.

I think the image would stand going a 1/4 stop brighter, but your call.

Cheers

Randy

[Daniel Cadieux]

Ditto Randy, and I would add that some fill-flash would have helped with the eye and the area around it. I love the bill's colour and texture...you bring that out so well!

[Craig Brelsford]

It's easy to mess up these "easy" shots, but you're too good a shooter for that, Stu. I like the impression of a scowl that we get from the downward pointing bill. Kind of looks like a portrait of a dictator on the national currency.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack for your feedback and suggestions. Here is a version with exposing the head a little more.

[Randy Stout]

Stuart:

Even better!

Randy

[Nico Steenberg]

Great sharpness and IQ. Like the comp. Subject is well exposed against a killer bg. Well done Stu.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Excellent shot, I am not sure which version I prefer, the first looks pretty darned good to me... but so does the second:)

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks guys.

[Steve Canuel]

Excellent portrait Stuart. Texture and detail are outstanding.

[Vivaldo Damilano]

The re-post is a lot better Stu. i agree with above comments, one should use more flash in there photography. I for one am lazy and don't often use it :S3:

[denise ippolito]

Stuart, Beautiful repost and sharp details. I love the pose and the BG. :S3:

[James Salywoda]

Awesome portrait Stuart really well captured.

[Todd Frost]

Re-post rocks Stuart. Nice pose/comp and killer bg. WEll done.
TFS
Todd

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Bravo amigo!
This must be a joy to photograph! as toucans, these birds have lots of personality!
Love the repost and that clean BG, eye, beak and pose are wonderful too. :S3:

[Jim Crosswell]

Excellent image Stuart! I like the pose, detail, BG and sharpness.

[James Shadle]

What do ya'll think about this crop?
IMO it makes this an even stronger image.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Yes I agree - have you also saturated a little more?

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you so much for the kind words.

James, I do like your new version of cropping in from the left.

[Ken Watkins]

Stuart,

I got my best ever Yellow Billed Hornbill at a picnic spot in Kruger, I think just below Mopani, I wonder if it is the same one?:cheers::cheers:

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Stuart, stunning details. WOW...such a mean looking fella. In India, the hornbills always stay very high up in tall trees. It must be delight to shoot them at eye level like this. You did very well with the exposure and HA.

[Stu Bowie]

Ken, Kaus, thanks a stack guys.