Carmine Bee-Eater on display

[Morkel Erasmus]

Dug up this nice pose from a Carmine Bee-Eater from the archives. Taken in the Kruger National Park in early 2010.

Techs:
Nikon D300s with Nikkor 200-400mm f4 VR @ 400mm
f5.6 @ ISO-400

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Beautiful bird and a great pose Morkel

[Nancy Bell]

Fabulous pose and you just cannot beat that incredible color! What do you think about reducing some of the shine on the bill? My eye keeps going to that brightness.

[gail bisson]

Nice to see the backside of this bird. Is he moulting? Feathers seem kind of scraggly on the neck. I like the diagonal perch and the fanned tail and wing spread. I would reduce some of the empty space to the left of bird. Maybe 10% off left side? I find the head a bit soft,
Gail

[Richard Unsworth]

Really like this; seen lots in the wild when the world was pre digital; great pose super colors; I also think the head is a little soft

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Gorgeous bird, pose and bg. I do enjoy loose comps, but in this case, the negative space isn't doing it for me.
I'd be curious to see if a vert works here and would also reduce the highlights just a bit.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks for your kind comments, folks...

I personally like the 'dead space' here. Yet, here is a repost with a total portrait crop, and some additional burning done on the head, with head sharpened one more round just for Gail

[gail bisson]

The repost rocks!!
Gail

[arash_hazeghi]

repost is the way to go and very nice topside view Morkel!

[dankearl]

Repost is really nice Morkel, I would add back just a bit on the left .
Very pretty bird.

[Ofer Levy]

Repost looks fine.

[RakeshDhareshwar]

The repost is 'wow'some !!!

[Derek Willcox]

looks great love how the reds/pinks pop

[Randy Stout]

Morkel:

Sorry I am late to the party. Repost is a significant improvement, might add back in just a bit more on the left( as Dan mentioned), not much.

I do prefer the brightness of the birds body in the original more than the repost.

Well done.


Cheers

Randy

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks for the great feedback everyone...will recrop the original as suggested.