White Breasted Cormorant

[Ken Watkins]

Taken on the shores of Lake Kariba, Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe whilst staying at Rhino Island Camp, 20th September 2010.

EOS 1D MkIV

500mm F4 IS hand-held from drifting boat

F7.1, ISO 800, 1/4000

[Gary Jones]

I like the diagonal lines through this. Good detail and nice open beak.

[Duane Noblick]

Great exposure/detail and I too like how everything flows in the image. Great work.

[Scott Frye]

There is no way I would be able to hand hold a 500mm lens expecially from a bouncy boat. Detail in both the blacks and the whites are really good -- love that red eye -- good job

[Gary Hamilton]

A 500mm hand held from a boat! You certainly had enough shutter speed (and strength) to pull this one off. Not sure I could do it. My only quibble is that I would like to see more space between the tail and bottom edge of frame. Otherwise, a terrific capture. Cheers.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Very nice indeed, if there is a crop I would consider ireplacing a little more at the bottom if not add a little canvas.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Ken, very nice clean profile shot. Liked the strong comp....and open bill always a plus. Great details too.

[Stu Bowie]

Well exposed, sharp with good detail Ken. The pose and comp work well, and the open beak adds interest.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the diagonal lines as well. I would add a little canvas on the bottom so its not so tight but the OP is beautiful too!

[Mark Young]

Lovely composition. I like the light on this.

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks so much for the positive feedback, either I am getting better at Bird photography or I am choosing better places to go,to be quite honest I think the use of a boat greatly enhances the possibilities.

I agree that I may have been a little aggressive on the cropping, this is around 75% of full frame, a little more room at the bottom would definitely help.

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

The species is a Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus). :)
Nice image indeed. I love it as is.

Szimi

[Ken Watkins]

The species is a Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus). :)

Szimi

That's what I thought but I was told otherwise, I would not dispute your ID. The images in Ian Sinclair's "Complete Photographic Field Guide Birds of Southern Africa" are not at all clear, perhaps the bill fooled me?