Hello from South Africa

[Andre Valadao]

Hello everyone,

I have been lurking here for a short while and thought it was time to introduce myself.
My name is Andre and i live in Johannesburg, South Africa.

I started photography last year July and got hooked on avian in about August. I shoot a Sony system my current primary setup is a a700 with a 70-400g lens, i also use an a350 with either a bigma or tamron 200-500.

Well i thought i would post a pic of a Woodland Kingfisher, i got a few decent shots of it this weekend.



My EXIF :

S/Speed : 1/250
Aperture 5.6
ISO 400
Flash used
Focal length 400mm

[Lance Peters]

HI Andre = a big warm welcome to the BPN Family = lots of nice folk here I am sure you will enjoy it.

Nice first post - goregeous bird - I like your composition and the position of the bird in the frame, also how yu have tried to minimize the large perch. Your exposure looks pretty good, doesnt look overflashed and nice details in the blacks.

The bright white arae's in the background are distracting from your subject and the head angle on your bird is maybe a bit off - but think you can get away with it with the pose that you have.
looking forward to more :)

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Andre Big Warm Welcome ... glad you decided to post !! Only way to go !!!

Agree with Lance and can add .... you owe us a piece of that bird's tail !!! Remember to include virtual tail, feet etc. A solid bg would have been great but look at me ... I'm looking for my first Kingfisher :) It is a pleasing image and one I love having !!!

[Garry Coldwells]

Welcome boet :)

You will find good honest critique here and many great people willing to share their knowledge.

The way the flash highlighted the irridesence (sp?) in this beauties feathers is superb.

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Andre,
A very big welcome to our BPN family...I like your first post, now that you got your feet wet, here you will recieve first class advise on how you can become better and better in this wonderful art we call photography...all of the techs. have been covered very nicely by Mr. Peters and Mr. Forns...I'm looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful compositions...good show...:cool:

[Andre Valadao]

Thanks very much everyone for the comments and welcome.

I look forward to posting more here, learning and hopefully adding some meaningful contribution

[Katie Rupp]

Big Welcome, Andre! Very nice first post and I'm looking forward to seeing more from your part of the world.

[Jeni Williams]

Welcome Andre - glad to see you here as well as ODP!!
Here's where you learn all about the dreaded HAP's!!!;)
We're almost on the same time frame as far as Avian photography goes and I must admit, it's been a heck of a learning curve here, sometimes VERY frustrating; :o these guys always push one to improve and even when I don't always understand what exactly they are after or how to do it, they have always been more than willing to give help and explanations.
I'm sure, no, in fact I KNOW, you'll find an improvement in your photography in a very short while!!!:D

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Huge welcome Andre. Great first post too. I love kingfishers. Lance seems to have covered the image very professionally. :) Let's see some more mate.

[Andre Valadao]

Thanks very much guys.

Sorry, missing the lingo a bit whats a HAP. I read in the acrynom list HA is head angle, HAP's got me though

[Jeni Williams]

lol Andre, it's the dreaded Head Angle Police!!! :D Check out the following thread
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...864#post239864
or look under Eager to Learn .... then Educational Resources and the HAP thread.

[Andre Valadao]

Thanks Jeni, i have learnt a lot already.