Bradfield's Hornbill

[Morkel Erasmus]

I really need to get round to processing more of my avian images from recent trips...:e3

My recent trip to Botswana resulted in a few birding "firsts" for my lists. This is the rare Bradfield's Hornbill busy preening.

Techs:
Canon 7D with 300mm f2.8 L IS USM + 1.4x TC-II (420mm)
f5.6 @ 1/1250 SS @ ISO-800
Exp bias +1

[Lorant Voros]

Very nice and very interesting preening pose. I find the sharpening a bit too much on the eye and face for my taste and I would add some more room on the bottom.

Lorant

[Sid Garige]

Morkel,

Excellent details and exceptional pose.

I am thinking of cropping it tight for max attention to the subject. What do you think of this?

[Herb Houghton]

Nice preening pose on this rarity Morkel. Congrats. Looks like some tough light to deal with, but the exposure and sharpness look good.

[arash_hazeghi]

what an amazing bird. great shot Morkel, maybe something between your and Sid's crop?

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks for the kind comments, folks!

This was taken at 07h42 so I doubt one can argue for harsh light, maybe it's just a tad bright as presented. :t3

Here is a repost - Arash is this the crop you had in mind?

[arash_hazeghi]

Hi morkel, i like the last crop best. light is great

[Ofer Levy]

Nice shot Morkel. I much prefer your original image as composition is nicely balanced IMHO. Sid's crop makes the image a bit dull and un-interesting IMHO and your repost is too tight top and bottom.
Cheers! :w3

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks Arash and Ofer...

Ofer I too prefer the original crop :S3:

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Mork, I too prefer your OP, as I like how we can see the fork of the perch. Good placement of the HB, and I do like the detail, colours and sharpness. Im off to Botswana in Aug for my 1st visit there. Tuli block. Cant wait.:w3

[gail bisson]

I like the OP. Very nice preening position.
Gail

[noelle zaleski]

Morkel, I like this image as first presented.

Congrats on your first BH!! :S3:

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Morkel, like your OP the best.

terrific perch, comp, IQ and pose...wing stretched with good HA and light angle. Shooting angle a bit steep but since the bird is pointing the bill downwards, it works well here.

Congrats on new bird in your portfolio. that's always exciting.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks Stuart, Noelle, Gail & KD!

[Nico Steenberg]

Great preening pose Morkel ! Subject is sharp and well exposed with good natural colours against a killer bg. Well done !

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks Nico...