Openbil take-off

[Albert Froneman]

Captured this guy recently on a trip to Botswana.

NIKON D3
1/1250 sec
f/5
Manual
EV +1/3
Auto-ISO: 900
Lens: 200 to 400mm
@ 400mm

All comments welcome :)

[Callie de Wet]

Really like this one, like all your pics - been looking at your pics for years now all over SA publications. Like the clarity in them, and the plumage colours showing up true. A real pleasure "meeting" you Albert. Groetnis
Callie

[Phil Ertel]

Hi Albert, I like pose you captured. The view of the wings is nice. Having the head not merge with the far wing might be preferable (in a perfect world) but I think this is pleasing as presented. If you have it I would suggest adding a little room at the top as it seem a bit tight. I would also suggest that you try and bring out some of the details in the dark areas of the near wing and body. Perhaps another +1/3 comp at capture would have helped lighten up the dark areas. To show you what I mean I took your image into photoshop and selectively ran shadow/highlights on the dark areas of the bird. Then ran noise reduction on those areas. I sure you could do a better job with the original file. I also added a little canvas on the top. Just something to consider. Again nice image and thanks for sharing.

[Peter Farrell]

Interesting looking bird. Pose looks like its doing gymnastics. I prefer the original comp. and maybe 1/2 wat to the repost on the blacks.
Peter

[arash_hazeghi]

What an amazing specie! Looks like a creature from prehistoric times! awesome landing shot against a great BG. I agree with raising the shadows a bit, well done/

[Albert Froneman]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions folk - much appreciated!

[Hendri Venter]

Very nice pose and detail The lighter BG shows the open bill very nicely.