African Spoonbill

[Ken Watkins]

Taken on Lake Manze channel, Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania, 29th August 2010

EOS 1D MkIV

500mm F4 IS hand-held from drifting boat

F6.3, ISO 400, 1/2500, EV -0.33

[Stu Bowie]

Good DOF Ken, and I like the slightly raised foot. Good detail and colours arond the head and bill, and just love their blue eyes.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Nice! I like this one alot. You got a great low angle from the boat. I like the raised foot, and the vertical comp. I only wish the mud ball obstructing the leg was not there, and I would the the black area's impact in the BG close to the head. Perhaps also tone down the brighter vegetation between the legs. Everything else looks great.

[Sid Garige]

Interesting spoonbill Ken. Not big fan of square comps but I think it works fine here.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I like it as presented, except the mudball Daniel mentioned. Very nice Ken. The pose is good as is exposure. :) TFS...

[Pieter de Waal]

I like this pose Ken, good eye contact and position of the bill and as mentioned the low angle.

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks to everone for their kind comments, it is pretty muddy along this stretch of the channel, which is why I would not follow Artie's advice to get out of the boat:)