Displaying Lilac-breasted Roller

[Chris van Rooyen]

I made this image several years back in the Pafuri region of the Kruger National Park. These rollers are spectacularly coloured, and they generally tend to sit quietly on an exposed branch, hawking for prey on the ground. I was busy photographing this guy when its mate suddenly arrived and they started to call and display. About 30% crop, processed with LR and PS CC, noise removed with Neat Image.

Camera Model: NIKON D3
Date/Time: 2009:04:05 07:20:26
Shutter speed: 1/2500 sec
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 2200
Lens: 500.0 mm f/4.0
Focal length: 700mm

[David Roach]

Love the pose, sharp where it needs to be, the varied but soft BG and the perch (dead stick with peeling bark). What a colorful beauty and I even love the soft touch of complimentary blue on the left (some may not). TFS

[Dorian Anderson]

Looks great Chris! Pose is great and I think completely forgives a perch that otherwise would be slightly higher than optimal. Details look great and the color is perfect. I will catch up with this species one day!

[Jonathan Ashton]

Beautiful image, love the pose, just the tiniest bit over saturated for me.

[Isaac Grant]

Very pretty frame in beautiful light. Love the spread wings and calling pose. I do wish the rear wing was more in focus but when the bird is not more parallel to the back of the camera there is nothing you could do about that. If you do not mind cloning, then I would remove the peeling bark that is running parallel to the right side of the birds tail.

[Mike Poole]

Beautiful Chris, I thing the open wing pose is superb. Sharp where it matters for me - another winning frame

Mike

[annmpacheco]

wonderful Chris, I too vote for removing the shaggy peeling bark. Open wing, open beak works here, lovely BG.

[John Mack]

Sweet frame of this gorgeous bird. The detail looks great. Love those colors and that pose.

[Joseph Przybyla]

Hi Chris, beautiful bird, nicely shown. I like the singing pose, perfect background and the perch because it is natural and not a setup. Thank you for sharing.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I love the split tip of the [perch, but it was unfortunate a piece of bark was peeling off in the wrong spot. Great looking bird set against a good BG. I do wish both wings were equally lit. I notice the updated avatar as well!