Pied Kingfisher

[Stephen Earle]

Image made in the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve (South Africa) from the Mankwe hide. 40D, 300 2.8 + 1.4 converter, ISO 400, f5.0, 1/3200,.

[Nagesh Mula]

Very Good shot Stephen.
I like the BG and the way you framed this Kingfisher.
I would highlight the dark patches around eye a little bit

[Harold Davis]

the bg is beautiful!!! agree with nagesh about opening up the shadows around the eye a bit. great job!!

[Fabs Forns]

Agree the BG is to die for :)
Good avise for the shadow and I'd mask the sharpening off the branch.

[Joanna Trescott]

What a beautiful BG. Great head turn and exposure.

[Aidan Briggs]

Nice head turn and exposure. The BG is wonderful. The whites look a little hot and the kingfisher is a bit small in the frame.

[Valerio Tarone]

Image made in the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve (South Africa) from the Mankwe hide. 40D, 300 2.8 + 1.4 converter, ISO 400, f5.0, 1/3200,.

As over:Beatiful Bg, nice capture. I know the bird, seen in my travel to S.A. 4 years ago..... too many.

[Mark Schmitt]

Very nice image. The over-all composition is good, especially, as has been pointed out, the BG. I agree with Fabs; the perch is showing signs of being over sharpened. Fabs suggestion is well taken, mask the perch and sharpen only the bird; or select the bird in it's own layer and sharpen it then flatten. Good composition. ;-)