Red-billed oxpecker

[Steve Kaluski]

OK, time to climb back into the saddle and post, albeit a re-edit. Hopefully the images will be more up to date along with the camera kit next week...

Normally I would not shoot at such a slow SS, but using the Proclamp attached to the door arm rest and at that time, the Unique ball head, (updated to the Flexline pro since), just gives perfect stability, however... On reflection I needed to pull out more so the eye was more complete so there was a tad more to the RHS. The Ox Pecker needed a little more head turn towards camera, but these dart about feeding on the flies & insects that plague the Buffalo in biblical swarms. Not a particular nice bird, as it maintains and keeps the wound on subjects like this open, thus drinking the blood of its victims which eating the pesky flies too.

Steve

Subject: Red-billed oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus)
Location: Londolozi, SA
Camera: Canon 1DX MKI
Lens: EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXT HH
Exposure: 1/400s at f/8 ISO400
Original format: Portrait, very slight crop almost FF
Processed via: LRCC 9.4 & PSCC2020

[John Mack]

Neat frame. The perch is very interesting. I like the framing.

[Randy Stout]

Steve:

I appreciate your thoughts for improvement, but do like the frame as posted. The closed eye is an interesting variant which works to somewhat downplay the perch and to give the buffalo a resigned, suffering air. It also helps the bird to hold our attention longer. Nice that you had a fly in the frame.

Cheers

Randy

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks folks.

Hi Randy, what I was referring to, re the Buffalos eye, was it needed more of it being visible in content rather than being truncating through? I was expecting many folk would want the eye open, but your raise a good point here, plus, they off are closed whilst eating and in bight light, as we might saint in bright light too.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Steve ... what a perch , massive
Overall it does look nice with tons of detail ... from the aesthetic POV I might loose detail in the buffalo to make the OP more prominent , just my take .
I am not a HA wonk .... but I think a head turn more to the viewer might look better .

TFS Andreas

[Steve Kaluski]

Indeed Andreas, as per my own observation, but this Avian character will have to wait, it’s just not worth the risk currently.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Indeed Andreas, as per my own observation, but this Avian character will have to wait, it’s just not worth the risk currently.

I am puzzled .... might not get your point , what risk ?

[Steve Kaluski]

CV-19, SA/Africa is to hot currently.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Ok now I got it ... I am with you on that front .

[Steve Kaluski]

Ok now I got it ... I am with you on that front .

I'm all good with two jabs, but a friend just came back from working with Bence Mate, it cost him almost £1k in private certificates!!!

[Arthur Morris]

With the contrasty off-angled light and the bird looking away, this one does nothing for me at all.

with love, artie

[arash_hazeghi]

I like this one despite the harsh light. only if the "perch's" eyes were open :)
TFS

[Steve Kaluski]

this one does nothing for me at all.

Can't win them all Artie.

I like this one despite the harsh light. only if the "perch's" eyes were open :)

Light comes up quickly Arash, so you make the most of it, come what may. Sometimes the eyes are open, here they are closed and in some respects if open, it may have offered a distraction because the viewers eyes may have been drawn to the eye???