This one was taken on our trip to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park last week. One of our country's most beautiful birds IMO. This fellow was fluttering around our tent on one morning and calling gaily. I stalked him around as he flew from tree to tree and got this shot of him calling out in the open (they are normally found deep in the foliage of the trees and like to hide from lenses :)). Couldn't get too close though, so this is about 50% of the original image.
I like how this came out with the red breast contrasted against the clear blue African morning sky. I removed some distracting twigs around the perch but the bird was in the clear for this shot. Dialed in exposure compensation of +0.3 to get more details in the dark colours. The wind was giving it a hard time from behind as well :)
In a perfect world I would have wanted the head turned more towards me, but it's keeper for now.
Techs:
Canon 40D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 400mm
f5.6 @ 1/2500 SS @ ISO-500
Exp +0.3








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