Green Wood Hoopoe

[Geoffrey Montagu]

More from Botswana. Captured this Hoopoe just as we neared a large dead tree. He had flown in with a number of his friends and possibly family. They do nest in holes and this one was checking one, but I did not see any signs of young ones. C&C welcome.

D500, Sigma 150-600mm @ 550mm, 1/1600s, f 8.0, HH, ISO 2000

Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

[John Mack]

Would burn the wood around the bird some. The composition is nice here. Pretty neat looking bird.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Never seen this bird before, how cool is it! Nesting in trees, no wonder the tail is used as it is. I like the image a lot, but were you able to manoeuvre to your right to get bit of separation between the bird and tree?

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Would burn the wood around the bird some. The composition is nice here. Pretty neat looking bird.

Thanks John. I have already taken the brightness out of the tree quite a bit, but possibly a little more might do.

Geoffrey




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[Geoffrey Montagu]

Never seen this bird before, how cool is it! Nesting in trees, no wonder the tail is used as it is. I like the image a lot, but were you able to manoeuvre to your right to get bit of separation between the bird and tree?

Thanks Daniel. As we pulled up to this tree in our vehicle, the birds were landing and moving back around and up to the top. Our guide did his best to get us in a good position. To answer your question is yes and no. The birds were not sitting still for long and moving up the tree pretty quickly. If we had backed up, to get the angle you mention, not sure if the bird would have stayed in that spot.

Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Geoff, great angled pose here, and you certainly nailed the feather detail on him. The light has brought out the iridescence so well, and agree, toning down the tree trunk wont harm the image.

I remember on your Crested Barbet image that I have them in my garden. Well to make you more jealous, these guys have visited too. You are correct, they normally fly around in four's of five's. They fly in gangs.

[Bill Dix]

Gorgeous range of colors, and great look-back pose. I would also try taking the brightness of the tree down another notch. I believe this may be an immature (or molting) bird, judging from the orange-y colors in the face.

[Dorian Anderson]

Great bird and frame placement. I agree turning down the tree would help him stand out more.

[Isaac Grant]

I have fond memories of these birds. Colors look good and nice head angle. In addition to toning down the tree you need to reduce the yellows by about 15 points or more. Head does not look tack sharp to me. Was focus there or on the front shoulder?

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Thanks everyone. I had lowered the brightness on the tree, but possibly could use a bit more. Isaac are you suggesting reducing the yellows globally or just the tree. Personally I think the yellows are good in both, but I just took a look at globally reducing yellows(15 points), and I'm thinking it does look richer/deeper and yet still retains the iridescence in the feathers. Focus point was just below the front shoulder in this frame.....not ideal.

Geoffrey




http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu