Lesser Doublecollared Sunbird

[John Deakin]

The light was still quite harsh :(. I was just happy with the clean BG and composition, I would appreciate your comments.

John

Nikon D3
500VR
F/9
Matrix
1/640
ISO 800
Tripod

[Alfred Forns]

Did really well with the light John Only flash fill would have made it better Does help tame the contrast

I like the perch and pose very much Perhaps just a little separation form the leafs and a slight head twist !!! Very appealing and beautiful !!

[Fabs Forns]

Yes, clean nicely composed. I'd have waited for his head to separate from the flower a little. Keep them coming!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Beautiful bird, details, perch and BG. Could you have moved to your right for a better angle?

[John Deakin]

Thanks you for your constructive comments and suggestions Alfred, Fabs, Axel.

Alfred, I haven't used flash previously, however, through your comment, I sat yesterday in very poor light and tried it out with half decent results. Now I will endeavour to use a flash more often, I can see a huge difference, thanks for pushing me in that direction.

Fabs, you are so right about a slight separation, I agree it would have been better. It was pointed out to me that this image shows how nature designs itself so well, with the flower stem perfectly placed for the head of the sunbird to gather and distribute the pollen to the next flower he feeds from, still would have liked that separation though :), hopefully next time.

Axel, I had set up in a sitting position which best suited the light direction and position of the flower against a clean uncluttered BG hoping a SB would also play ball and feed from the right direction, luck wasn't on my side, he didn't land looking towards me but away from me, moving the tripod wasn't an option this time I'm afraid. I will try this again from the same position and with flash and keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks again, very helpful, appreciated.

John