Southern Carmine Bee - eater

[Stu Bowie]

During a trip to the Kruger Park, back in March, I was fortunate to capture my first Carmine Bee-eaters. I found a location in one of the areas where they were active, and furthermore, if I positioned correctly, I managed to capture them against a non sky BG. This BG is a distant mountain taken in late afternoon light. After this, I had to get back to the camp in a hurry, as the gates closed at 6.00pm.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300mm F/2.8 +1.4 TC = 420mm
1/2000
F/6.3
ISO 800

Manual exposure
Hand held from the car.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Stu, very, very nice, cool portrait.

I like the contrast of colour between the background and the subject, works well IMHO. Great detail, although I'm not sure if it's the DoF or masking, but the tip of the bill looks as if it's tailing off, I think it's the later??? Depending on your ethics and personal tastes, I might be tempted to remove the LH part of the branch, easy to do as there is a clean line you can take down, just a thought, no deal breaker .

TFS
Steve

[Joseph Przybyla]

A beautiful bird, nicely shown. Congratulations on your first. Do I wish for mountains in Florida for background like this. Thanks for sharing, Stu.

[keith mitchell]

Beautiful bird Stuart that mountain bg gives an almost stormy ,bird ,bg,and perch (not so keen on the bit at the bottom) look good, you must be very pleased with this I know I would be if it was mine.

Keith.

[Marina Scarr]

Killer bird, light and colors. The BG is perfect. I'm with Steve on loosing that part of the tree, and also I'd try vertical.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image, Stuart Sir.
Spectacular bee eater with wonderful colors, great details, beautiful BG and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack for all the feedback everyone. Here is a version with part of the perch removed.

[Stu Bowie]

Here is Marina's suggestion going vertical.

[Steve Kaluski]

Very 'Handsome' Stu, any help from Banjo LOL .

[keith mitchell]

Prefer this one Stuart.

[David Salem]

Wow Stu this is beautiful!! The pose and the perch are great, the details and exposure are predictably on the money and the BG is to die for. What more could you want from a static shot! Definitely the vertical. Although I do like the little darker evening feel to this, you might try increasing the exposure a little bit, might give it just a hair more pop. Very nice capture.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Fascinating bird and gorgeous colours Stu. I like your RP and the techs look great. The BG is very nice too. TFS.

[William Dickson]

Beautiful Stu. Fab colours and really great detail. The colours on the bird and the perch look great against the BG. Great work and thanks for sharing.

Will

[arash_hazeghi]

The last repost is the best IMO, excellent pose and details. Well done

[gail bisson]

#3 is the one!
I agree with David about increasing the exposure. I have seen these birds IRL and I think the reds are a bit subdued. if you increased the exposure it would help bring up the color.
Well done Stu and congrats on finding them!
Gail

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Stu - I missed this one. Very well done. Excellent detail, sharpness and a great bg. Congrats on the first. The vertical works for me too. Btw isn't this the trip you came back from and said you didn't have much luck?

TFS,
Rachel