Anteating Chat Portrait

[Stu Bowie]

These guys like to be on the ground to eat their main diet of ants. The also do perch in shrubs and smaller trees. Another image taken solely for creating a portrait image. Taken in a small nature reserve close to my house a few weekends ago.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/1250
F/8
ISO 400

Exp Comp 0
Hand held from the car.

[Katie Rupp]

Hi Stuart, the open beak adds interest to this portrait; it's nice and sharp with lots of detail in the feathers; good HA and like the eye. Thanks for adding the species information.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Stuart, loved the feather details and the catchlight. I think this might look better vertical or square with more of the bird in it. As presented, I do like( very much) the placement of the bird's head in the frame.

[Callie de Wet]

Hi Stu. nice AEC! Roetvlei gave me mu first decent one too. Love mug shots. A suggestion. Turn it around 180 degrees. You eye then flows over the negative space and lock on to the eye of the chat, something I find increase the visual impact of a photograph, especially mugshots!

[Markus Jais]

Great portrait. Wonderful composition, sharpness and details. BG ist great, as is the open bill.

Markus

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Hi Stu. nice AEC! Roetvlei gave me mu first decent one too. Love mug shots. A suggestion. Turn it around 180 degrees. You eye then flows over the negative space and lock on to the eye of the chat, something I find increase the visual impact of a photograph, especially mugshots!

thx Callie for the great tip. Since we read left to right, that will work like a charm.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack for the great feedback.

[Tony Whitehead]

Good portrait with nice plumage and eye detail, Stuart. Open beak is great. Might clean up the small blurred ?feather on the lower edge protruding from the breast.

[Vida van der Walt]

Wonderful feather detail in this Stu. Great portrait and I love the soft blue of the bg and open beak.:)

[Stu Bowie]

Tony, Vida, thanks a stack for the feedback.