European roller

[Jonathan Ashton]

Taken from car window, Lower Sabie region Kruger Park
Canon 1DX Canon 500mm f4 l IS II & 1.4TC III ISO 500, 1/2000 sec f8.
ACR + PSCC

I would have been happier had the tail been in focus but that wasn't to be.

[Dorian Anderson]

Good looking bird, the prey really adds a lot. The eye/face look sharp, but I'm surprised you didn't get
a bit more DOF at f/8. Otherwise the frame just looks a bit flat. It doesn't have the pop I usually
associate with this species. Maybe a bit fo saturation and/contrast, but I'm not that good at identifying
exactly what needs to be done.

[gail bisson]

Great bird and HA and love the prey !
As soon as I opened the thumbnail I thought the image looks a bit flat. I would add a couple od points of black to the neutrals in selective coloring and then add a few points of saturation.
The slightly OOF tail doesn't bother me at all,
Gail

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks Dorian & Gail, I agree it does look a bit anaemic, maybe this is bit better. (This roller is nowhere near as colourful as the Lilac Breasted roller).

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Jon, love the beetle in the mouth, great timing. Having just come back from SA either image works, albeit the second is just slightly tweaked, but both look pretty spot on.

TFS
Steve

[Jonathan Ashton]

Hi Jon, love the beetle in the mouth, great timing. Having just come back from SA either image works, albeit the second is just slightly tweaked, but both look pretty spot on.

TFS
Steve

Thanks Steve, glad you like it, I think the rollers tend to make one think bright vibrant colours, but with this species they are less so, especially in those lighting conditions.

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks Steve, glad you like it, I think the rollers tend to make one think bright vibrant colours, but with this species they are less so, especially in those lighting conditions.

On bright sunny days these birds are colourful & vibrant, (you should see them in India), but on overcast/dull days the colour is more muted/flat. It just depends on if you are reflecting from recollection how it looked, or want a 'saturated' look because it looks good. Hope 'woody' played ball today.

[Arthur Morris]

The repost looks great. Is it the same frame? The bird and the prey item are great. The perch tree not so much.

with love, artie