Carmine on black & white

[Vincent Grafhorst]

Southern Carmine Bee-eater with a passing zebra in the background.

I was not close enough to the bee-eater to make a good photo of the bird itself, but when I saw a group a zebras passing in the BG I grabbed the opportunity for a different kind of bird photo.

Image made in the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Botswana.

Camera Model Canon EOS 40D
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/800
Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 400
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Focal Length 700.0 mm
Image Size 3888x2592
Image Quality RAW
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Color Temperature(5200K)
AF Mode One-Shot AF

Vincent Grafhorst
www.khwaiphotography.com

[Steve Ashton]

Great image and the Zebra in the BG gives a great idea of habitat. I think I would take the branch out on the left side which just draws my eye away from the subject. For me all else is perfect. Nice work.

[peter delaney]

Hi Vincent...great idea.....have you cropped much already? ..if not i wud crop image so the only BG is the OOF zebra...then remove branch on left hand side.

PS i love the karma sanctuary .. but havent been there in awhile......:)

[Vincent Grafhorst]

Thanks guys I will try to remove that nasty branch!
Peter, as posted the image is 80% of the original. When I crop as per your suggestion and have only a zebra BG, I'll be left with maybe only 30% of the original.... Guess I must look out for another opportunity. But I agree with you that it could be stunning. Thanks.

[Alfred Forns]

Vincent this is one of those images that we can make suggestions for improvement with no end in sight

Two things come to mind From your vantage point you made the best image possible with the time you had to take it
Second making small adjustments in camera would not have been realistic

Would only remove the one little sick and leave all else as is Sure wish it was mine and I feel is one of those images that will make the highlight of a trip in years to come I guess you must think I like it a lot :)

[Arthur Morris]

Agree on getting rid of the little stick upper left and wish for a nicer perch overall. Well-conceived and executed, esp. the perfect timing and head angle.

Later and love, artie

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Very interesting composition Vincent and I find the BG very striking. You did well to capture this image and as mentioned already a very nice head turn and pose of the bea-eater. Nits have been covered. Many thanks for sharing.

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Nice looking bird and unusual BG,nice work Vincent!

[Jim Poor]

This is really cool. I'd get rid of two branches. The one "growing" out of the bird, and the one that just barely enters the frame on the left.