Purple Gallinule

[Joseph Przybyla]

I captured this image yesterday morning at Circle B Bar Reserve in Polk County, Florida. This time of year the Purple Gallinules feed on the blossoms of the Fire Flag plant. I know that some will find the background distracting but that is where the bird is, by cropping I tried to minimize it as much as possible. The image shows the bird in it's environment.

Nikon D7000
Nikon 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF shot at 300mm (450mm FFE)
1/1250 F/5.6 ISO 640

[keith mitchell]

Joseph Bg is fine by me, it's amazing how a large dird with big feet can climb up those stems,it's a very nice piece of work .

Cheers Keith.

Going over to Florida in a few weeks ,hope I can find some of these.

[Greg Payne]

Very nice. Love the colors

[Munish Kaushik]

Hi Joseph,

Fantastic light on the bird & just Love the colors here. Though image appears a little soft to me.

[Diane Miller]

A very nice catch! I think the BG is fine. As you said, it shows the habitat and behavior. The angle of light on it and the varying degree to which focus is soft give a BG that is pleasing rather than distracting. Not always easy to do.

Those feet are awesome -- how can it hang onto that stem?

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Fine image and very nice light. This is a nice bird also with some lovely colours. I like the inquisitive look and habitat feel.

[Jim Keener]

How wonderful to have the colors of the flowers reflect the colors of the bird.

[Bill Dix]

A great pose from this colorful species. Love those feet. I, too, wondered if just a touch more USM on the bird might be called for?

[gail bisson]

I like the composition and the view of those great big feet.
Nice colors as well.
Unfortunately, the head is a bit soft so I would try to sharpen it and see if it is salvageable. The BG could use some noise reduction as well.
Gail

[Karl Egressy]

Nice image, Joe. Love the colors and the climbing pose.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image beautiful gymnastic pose by colorful Purple hen.
I like the natural environment with Fire Flag plant with flowers and their color complimenting well with hen's color.
Beautiful composition too.

Regards,
Satish.

[Ivan Ellison]

You have done well to get the bird in the open, difficult with birds that live in reeds. I like the image and agree a little more sharpening on the head may make it better, The flowers above the bird seem sharper than the bird.