White-fronted bee-eater

[Chris van Rooyen]

Another image from my recent trip to Pafuri in the Kruger National Park. I pre-focused on the branch and fired away as the birds came in to land. Would have preferred it without the shadow on the tail:)

Camera Model: NIKON D3
Date/Time: 2009:04:07 16:19:04
Shutter speed: 1/2500 sec
Aperture: 5
Exposure mode: Tv
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 800
Lens: 500mm f/4
Focal length: 500mm
Focal length: 500mm (in 35mm film)
AF mode: AF-C

[Maxis Gamez]

This is very nice. Love the light and the pose. The colors are very vivid. You have a winner here!

[Ramon M. Casares]

The shadow doesn't feel as a nit to me at all, the pose, the BG, the light, colors and detail are so stunning that the whole thing work perfectly IMO. If something, I wish for a little more room on top.
Congratulations!

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Don't worry about the shadow Chris. I like it with the wingspread and brakes on as is. A wonderful looking species.

[Phil Ertel]

I didn't notice the shadow on the tail at first because the pose, colors. and details on the birds head and body commanded my attention. However since you mentioned it I do agree with you that the image might have been more pleasing with out those shadows.
I love that you captured the bird just before it landed on the branch. The background is very nice. The over all composition is pleasing to me. I like like the diagonal line that the branch introduces. Congratulations and well done as usual.

[Tony Whitehead]

I love the pose with the feet about to grasp the perch and the open bill. You could probably tone down the shadow significantly using the clone stamp in lighten mode building up from a lowish opacity.

[David Thomasson]

Beautiful! The background colors nicely complement the bright colors in the plumage.

I don't really mind the shadow on the tail. Just took it off for practice. Hope you don't mind.

[Ilija Dukovski]

The colors are fantastic. Very unusual pose adds to the feel.
I wish the branching on the left was not there.

[Nate Chappell]

Great action with the beak open and just about to land.

[Chris van Rooyen]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions guys:) You did a great job of removing those shadows David!