Bulbul

[Ryan Lambert]

The Black Eyed Bulbul is usually a bland bird to photograph but when he landed on this aloe flower to feed the colour of the flower and afternoon light really brightened up the subject.

Camera Model Canon 40D
Lens EF400mm f/2.8L IS USM
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/1600
Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3
Exposure Compensation 1
ISO Speed 640
Focal Length 560mm

[Rob Smith]

Gorgeous shot Ryan. Got to love the perch & beautiful bokeh to boot.

[Lana Hays]

Ryan
Nice detail on the bird and what a colorful perch. The perch would even be a great macro image alone. The bird looks like he's balancing himself on the narrow top. Did you get any images of him more upright? Well done.

[Randy Stout]

Ryan:

Excellent job on the exposure. Good detail in the blacks, while not blowing out the orange/reds.
I like the little patch of color in the birds rump, helps harmonize with the perch.
There are two catchlights, I might eliminate the smaller one.
I would also consider sharpening the eye selectively.

Thanks for sharing!

Randy

[Mark Dumbleton]

Super comp here bud! Like the bland colours of the bird on top of the vibrant colouring of the plant.
Ditto catchlight and sharpening of eye. Well done!

[Kobus Tollig]

Ditto All Randy said. GREAT shot well done

[Ryan Lambert]

Some changes as suggested by Randy - many thanks for the assistance, Lana I have some upright poses but quite like the horizontal line created by the subject. Thanks for the comments and suggestions...

[Daniel Cadieux]

Quite the vivid perch, and I like the mottled BG. I wouldn't have minded seeing the bird a little higher in the frame, with more of the perch consequently showing by pointing your camera down a bit. In your repost there is yet another "catchlight" that could go :-)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the pose, perch and BG. Adding to the other comments, the image looks a bit underexposed on my monitor.

[Jeni Williams]

I like the detail and vivid colours of the aloe. Would also like to see it a bit higher.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Good comments above. I lke the pose, detail, exppsure, species, perch, colors and BG, I would've also prefered to have the bird a little higher in the frame.
Congratulations!

[Aidan Briggs]

The OP is better IMO. The repost is too dark. I would also like to see the bird higher in the frame. I could see a nice vertical here if you had gotten an upright pose. Nice light, perch, exposure and BG.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I prefer the OP too. I do like the pose, but I feel the flowerhead itself would orientate better as a vertical with the bird the same. Just a thought. I do like it still. :)

[Ryan Lambert]

Thank you all for the comments and crits, much appreciated

[Stu Bowie]

Ryan, brilliant IQ in this, and I like the pose. Lovely colourful perch, and you have captured good detail on him too.

[Ryan Lambert]

Thanks Stu, much appreciated

[Simon Bennett]

Wonderful image - I like the contrast of the sombre bird and bright flower - lovely background too.