African Jacana wading

[Morkel Erasmus]

I want to apologize upfront to the Head Angle Police

This was taken on a pond bordering the Kruger National Park from a small boat.

Techs:
Canon 7D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 380mm
f5.6 @ 1/500 SS @ ISO-400

[James Shadle]

Morkel,
Were you under the water when you photographed this bird? The perspective is outstanding!

You are already aware that the head being parallel to the imaging plane would make this a stronger image, so I won't mention it.

Very nice light, interesting behavior and beautiful subject.

IMO this could be an even better image without the yellow spot behind the birds head.
I applaud you for not cloning it out.

James

[Mark Young]

Lovely low angle. Had you not said you were in a boat I would've thought you were on shore.

[Greg Basco]

Morkel, yes, the head angle, but what a cool perspective and beautiful light on the bird. I agree with James on both counts regarding the yellow spot.

Cheers,
Greg Basco

[Andrew McLachlan]

Morkel, you do have a wonderful low angle here and I love the raised foot.

[Mikko Viljamaa]

I can live with the head angle but I do think that the "bud" on left is quite overpowering.


Cheers,

Mikko

[Kiran Poonacha]

Loved the angle and the light here Bhai, yes the HA police are after you

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for the comments folks...

James - I don't clone in "natural history" images, but I will when doing an artistic conversion and the likes.

Mikko - that's an integral part of its environment...so I love it being there :)

[Stephen Earle]

Excellent Morkel. Good job on getting so low.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Love the low angle, and I like the bud there as is, and also love the curled leaf just ahead of the raised foot. Good water spittin' action. Not crazy about the yellow spot above the head, nor the greenish one above the tail (you could always burn those to see if that lessens their impact), and of course the HA that you've mentioned yourself. Apology accepted.

[Randy Stout]

Morkel:

I hope you had a life jacket on, because the angle of this shot makes me think the boat was sinking!

Nice discussion above. I think the big bud behind the bird is a neat environmental component, but in a perfect world, I would wish it were just a bit further away from the bird. (More to the left)

Lovely colors, like the leaf in front turned up.

Cheers

Randy

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks folks

Daniel - good suggestion, will go try it

Randy - I forgot to mention I was lying on my stomach in a very small boat, going for the lowest angle possible with the lens resting on the boat rim.