Lilac Breasted Roller

[Stu Bowie]

I was fortunate to capture this guy in the open. Taken in the Kruger National Park. Overcast conditions.
Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/1000
F/7.1
ISO 400

Exp Comp +0.33
Hand held from the car.

[Randy Stout]

Stuart:

Very nice light, soft, sharp image, nice angle on bird.

I wish the perch wasn't so close to the horizontal midline. I know with this long tail your options are limited, but I would be tempted to move the bird down a fraction, keeping the tail clear of the frame edge, and add some to the top if you have it. Just an option to try.

Not an easy one to crop. Hope to see some more in this nice light.

Cheers

Randy

[Chris Kotze]

Super pose, sharp and well captured. Lovely colours

[Stu Bowie]

Randy, Chris, thanks for looking and for the feedback.

Randy, thanks for your suggestion. I do have room at the top, but I feel this would form more of a square crop, adding to the top -and I cant really move him down too much more. I will give it a bash and see how it looks with room on top.

[Stu Bowie]

Here is a version with added space on top. I did this the easy way by adding canvas, although the original does have space.

[Stephen Stephen]

Stuart beautiful colours and details on this bird. I like the added canvas on the re-post as well.

[David Fletcher]

Nicely done Stu. Lovely details and colors and the repost adds balance too.

[Christian Dionne]

I love the quality of the soft light, it brings out the delicate colors of the subject, I prefer the 2nd version as well.
Great shot of a beautiful bird.

[Rob Drummond]

Overcast often brings out the best in the colours - lovely shot Stuart

cheers
Rob

[Harshad Barve]

lovely pose and colors Stuart
repsot looks better
TFS

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all for the kind words. Much appreciated.

[Gerrie van Vuuren]

Second version for me Stu! Like the pose, detail, natural colours & eye contact. Well done!

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks for looking and for your feedback Gerrie.