Yellowbilled Stork

[Stu Bowie]

This was the best angle I could capture this guy, and Im first to admit, the light is not ideal. This was taken in the Kruger National Park, and trying to get a shot in between vehicles. The pinkish colour shows that they are in breeding. At least I got a good head angle.

Canon 50D
100-400 L IS USM @ 210mm
1/1250
F/6.3
ISO 400

Exp Comp +0.33
Hand Held from a car.

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

WOW, never seen that pink on this species. Gives a very interesting affect.
Lights are nice but as you said not the ideal. Anyway nicely exposed image.

Szimi

[joel quenneville]

Very intresting colors here, Stuart. Your subject is well framed and sharp with a good head angle;). The sidelight is not that bad here, I kind of like it. Using fill flash would have filled in some shadows. Well done.

[Randy Stout]

Stuart:

Good self critique. I do think that the HA saves the picture. It minimizes the effect of the light angle. The head and eye are nicely illuminated, the shadowing on the neck gives so sense of shape/form to the neck. I might try some slight shadow work, esp. at the base of the neck, but not much.

Nicely handled under the circumstances!

Randy

[Stephen Stephen]

Stuart nice capture here. I like the catchlight in the eye.

I'm not sure if you have room but I would suggest cropping this image a bit more on the right and adding canvas on the left to give the bird a bit space to look into.

[David Roach]

Great job with that light angle (getting the eye) and it is a beauty in breeding colors!!

[Chris Kotze]

Super pose and lovely colours, well done in getting the head angle and eye.

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

I really like the light and the composition!

[David Fletcher]

Like it Stuart. Did very well. Good light and head angle hold it. Lovely colors and detail on the bird.

[Morkel Erasmus]

this is very vibrant Stu! lovely exposure and thanks for explaining the pink - I was about to ramble something about magenta tint ;)

[Hugh J McLaughlin]

Composition works very well. Light does not bother me.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Very good looking fellow! Love the warm light and the yellow bill. I would crop a bit from right.

[Doug Brown]

I wouldn't change a thing Stuart. Having the head angled so that the eye and most of the head are well-lit removes the negative issues associated with side lighting IMO. It's a great photo!

[Harshad Barve]

I ditto Doug here
this species looks quite like painted storks we have
Thanks for sharing
Harshad

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I don't mind the lighting that much at all! Nice pose, calm waters. Quite like the perfect HA. Congrats mate. :)

[Gerrie van Vuuren]

Like it as is Stu! You did well given conditions.

[Dave Barnes]

Colours show very well here Stu.
Have you tried a portrait crop?

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all for the kind words. Much appreciated.

[Kiran Poonacha]

Beautiful one Sir... every said above. Just to add, we have a very similar one here called the painted stork, will post one soon.