Green Violet Ear

[Peter Hawrylyshyn]

One more from Savegre in Costa Rica.

40D with 400mmDO ISO 400, manual 1/250 f22
seven flash setup (1/32 power)
the flower is a local favorite of HB's and was placed near a feeder

Still unsure if i like the darker BG's - let me know what you think
Peter

[Randy Stout]

Peter:

Lovely bird. My only personal aesthetic thought is that the flower is so bright, and the red such a strong color, that it competes with the bird too strongly for our attention. I might consider toning down the flower just a bit.

The background is OK for me.

[Trey Barron]

I like the BG as is but might try to lighten it up a bit and check out the difference. It might help to bring more separation with the bird and BG and take attention away from the flower. I would still love to have this one.

[Karl Egressy]

Looks great as is. The bird and the flower are fantastic.
Slightly lighter backgrund could be better

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great details, eye contact and BG. I would run NR on the BG and maybe increase contrast a few points.

[Grace Scalzo]

Beautiful eye-grabber with all that color. Axel has good suggestions.

[Stu Bowie]

The HB is nice and sharp, and stands out well against the smooth OOF BG. I think the colours in this are just perfect. Well captured Peter.

[Peter Hawrylyshyn]

I should have mentioned that in PS i already decreased saturation of reds by 7 pts and ran Topaz Denoise before applying any sharpening. Thanks for the comments and suggestions.
PH

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Great image Peter. THe colors on that Hummer are out of this world. For me at least. :)

I would never have thought that the flower in the picture is a local. It looks so much like the Aussie Callistemon sp. aka bottlebrushes, which I thought only exist on the Australian continent - of course if they have not been introduced elsewhere into suitable habitat.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

A great looking fellow for sure!
I agree about running some noise reduction on BG but I guess not much. The flash set up turn out to be fair since there is almost no alteration on the iridescence of the feathers.

Hey Akos, you are very right this is an introduced sp. from Australia, this is a Callistemon viminalis or Weeping Bottlebrush. It grows very well in Costa Rica and many of our streets are adorned with this beautiful tree. Besides, there is a sp. of larva that live within the bark and makes its house out of the same material and by doing so, can pass inadverted for birds and other possible predators.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

AHey Akos, you are very right this is an introduced sp. from Australia, this is a Callistemon viminalis or Weeping Bottlebrush. It grows very well in Costa Rica and many of our streets are adorned with this beautiful tree. Besides, there is a sp. of larva that live within the bark and makes its house out of the same material and by doing so, can pass inadverted for birds and other possible predators.

Thanks Juan Carlos. I suggest you guys taste test the nectar. It is sweet. :D I always get the Raibow Lorikeets in my frontyard on my Callistemon bushes. :)