Carmine Bee-Eater on display

Dug up this nice pose from a Carmine Bee-Eater from the archives. Taken in the Kruger National Park in early 2010.

Techs:
Nikon D300s with Nikkor 200-400mm f4 VR @ 400mm
f5.6 @ ISO-400

Beautiful bird and a great pose Morkel

Fabulous pose and you just cannot beat that incredible color! What do you think about reducing some of the shine on the bill? My eye keeps going to that brightness.

Nice to see the backside of this bird. Is he moulting? Feathers seem kind of scraggly on the neck. I like the diagonal perch and the fanned tail and wing spread. I would reduce some of the empty space to the left of bird. Maybe 10% off left side? I find the head a bit soft,
Gail

:S3:

Really like this; seen lots in the wild when the world was pre digital:S3:; great pose super colors; I also think the head is a little soft

Gorgeous bird, pose and bg. I do enjoy loose comps, but in this case, the negative space isn't doing it for me.
I'd be curious to see if a vert works here and would also reduce the highlights just a bit.

Thanks for your kind comments, folks...

I personally like the 'dead space' here. Yet, here is a repost with a total portrait crop, and some additional burning done on the head, with head sharpened one more round just for Gail :w3

The repost rocks!!
Gail

repost is the way to go and very nice topside view Morkel!

Repost is really nice Morkel, I would add back just a bit on the left .
Very pretty bird.

Repost looks fine.

The repost is 'wow'some !!!

looks great love how the reds/pinks pop

Morkel:

Sorry I am late to the party. Repost is a significant improvement, might add back in just a bit more on the left( as Dan mentioned), not much.

I do prefer the brightness of the birds body in the original more than the repost.

Well done.


Cheers

Randy

Thanks for the great feedback everyone...will recrop the original as suggested. :tinysmile_shy_t: