AFRICAN PURPLE SWAMPHEN

[Arno Ellmer]

Haven't been posting lately due to business travels.
Went to a local bird sanctuary this morning and I managed to capture this image.

Canon Mk IV
500mm + 1.4 x
f/8
1/1600
ISO 800
EC + 1/3
Shot from a hide
Cloned allround and removed some vegetation in the foreground.
All crits and comments welcome and learned from.

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent pose and nice details. I would get rid of the OOF grass in the LRC, the red channel is blown in the forehead area. TFS, great shot

[Marina Scarr]

Lovely pose on one of my favorite birds. Agree with Arash on removing the OOF branches in the bottom right corner. If you choose to do that, I would also clone out the highlights just under the bird's chest where it touches the water. Nice plus that he has material in his mouth. Too bad you weren't able to capture this in a little more subdued lighting situation.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Arno, you have brought out the colours very well, sharp, and I like how he is posing , showing off his nesting material. Another vote for removing the grass LRC. :w3

[Arno Ellmer]

Thanks all for the constructive comments !