Southern Carmine Bee-eater

[Bill Dix]

These pretty birds were high on my target list when we traveled to Botswana a few years back. This was the first look I got of one, near Kwetsani camp in the Okavango Delta. They were more plentiful once we traveled to a different camp (Duma Tau) a few days later, but this one seemed to fit the theme.

D500, Sigma 150-600C @ 430mm, ISO 1250, 1/2500s @ f/6.3 manual. HH from vehicle.

[John Mack]

Looks great high key. Nice fit to the theme. Such a beautiful bird.

[Brian Sump]

Bill, these colors really pop against the bright backdrop. Really nice pose with slight look back.

Perch leaves a little to be desired but shown nicely for what it is.

[Colin Driscoll]

What a mad color scheme! Nicely presented.

[Dorian Anderson]

That bird just cracks in high key! Composition is about perfect, but the subject/branch look a bit heavy - i.e. too contrasty and unnatural. I dialing back a bit would help.

[Daniel Cadieux]

A bit contrasty for my tastes as well, but I love the colours, subject, and "X" created by the subject and perch. A touch steep, but a perfect head angle you got here.