Fiscal Shrike on Elephant Skull

[Morkel Erasmus]

Something different...during our visit to the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa in August 2010, we came across the remains of a fallen elephant next to the road. This fiscal shrike perched obligingly on the skull - giving the impression that it wanted us to believe this bloke to be its last meal :D:wh

Techs:
Canon 7D with 100-400mm L IS USM
f8.0 @ 1/1600 SS @ ISO-400

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the shot very much but I would suggest you consider a little more sharpening on the bird and perhaps reduce the brightness a little on the skull.

[James Salywoda]

I like the curves in the bone adding to a interesting composition and of course the bird looks
great.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Jonathan and Jim

I agree Jonathan - looking at it directly after uploading the bird seemed slightly soft due to downsizing.

here is a repost with your nits covered

[Daniel Cadieux]

Neat sighting! Did this bird not impale its "catch" somewhere for a future meal?

Repost looks better, but I would add canvas (if you have it) above and right. Above because I find the subject tight up there, and right because I am not crazy about the arched edge of the skull skimming the edge of the frame.

[Indranil Sircar]

That's a good catch! Would not have guessed that as an elephant skull. Thanks for the background!

I am with Dan here on the crop and adding more canvas as the perch seems overpowering unless there is more of the skull, IMHO.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Mork, repost looks good, and you have exposed the colours on the shrike nicely. I do like Dan's suggestion of a tad more space.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for the suggestions guys - will take a look at reworking, as far as I can remember this is about 80% of the original image