Blackcrowned Night Heron

[Stu Bowie]

This was taken in Cape Town during my summer holidays. The sky was as blue as shot, as the air over Cape Town is very clear.

Canon 50D
100-400 L IS USM @ 400mm
1/3200
F/6.3
ISO 500

Exp Comp +0.33
Hand Held

[Dan Brown]

Wow! very sharp! love the exp and eye contact! I would prefer a bit trimmed off the left, but that's just me!

[Doug Brown]

Hi Stuart. The exposure looks perfect. However the bird looks a little oversharpened. Thanks for posting!

[Anton Roos]

Great posture and I like the detail under the wings. Like the comp as is. Maybe a tad over sharpened? Might be the old eyes :) Well done mate.

[Stu Bowie]

Dan, Doug, Anton, thanks for your positive input.

I have taken away the oversharpened area, which was the belly, and also on the wing.

[Chris Kotze]

Excellent detail colours and a great flight angle. Well captured the repost looks great

[Tony Whitehead]

Good job, Stuart. Agree on the sharpening comments and the repost is a step in the right direction. Good to have that small bit of separation between the bill and far wing. Stunning eye colour with these birds. Streak of cloud in the blue sky is great.

[Steve Canuel]

Hi Stuart,
Repost looks good. I like the open left wing and the backward "L" formed by the bird. I also like his placement in the frame and the subtle white strip of clouds in the BG.

[Arthur Morris]

I love it as presented wishing only for a bit softer light. Sharpness is excellent. What camera was that???

And the repost is even better.

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all for the positive feedback. Much appreciated.

Artie, I did state on my original image that this was taken with a Canon 50D.