Malachite Kingfisher

[gail bisson]

Canon 7D
F4.0 500mm
Manual
Full frame
ISO 800 High overcast sky. On tripod from pontoon boat at 9:00AM
SS 1/320
Aperture 7.1
LR3 and NR done in CS5
Cloned out a twig from RHS

I have just returned from an amazing 4 week trip to Botswana, Namibia and SA. My first week was spent with Albert Froneman ( of Afrimage/ Chris van Rooyen)) who lead a fabulous workshop for 8 photographers. I learned a lot and will likely spend the next few months editing and working on the 5000 pics I took!...already deleted 850!! A great project for these cold,dark Canadian winter nights.
I love these little birds (2 inches tall) and seeing them flit about in the reeds is like getting a glimpse of a little jewel in the foliage.
Comments and critiques always appreciated and learned from,
Gail
Should I lighten the eye?

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Welcome back Gail.
This is gorgeous. I love the perch and this little colorful character.
I would have him just a bit further up in the frame. A touch of fill flash (if possible) would have been great here imo.
Looking forward to more from what sounds like a super productive trip.

[Brendan Dozier]

Wow, Gail! beautiful bird, wonderful color, and very nicely captured & composed. I think I might try lightening the eye a bit and see how it looks. You are really getting very good at this, and your enjoyment & enthusiasm comes right through the camera! Sounds like an amazing trip, can't wait to see more of your images.

[Jim Crosswell]

Beautiful image Gail! I like the pose, perch and colours. I had no idea these Kingfishers are so small. Look forward to seeing more images from your trip.

[dankearl]

Gail, I thought you did your 1000th post and split!
Nice photo.
I would lighten the eye and lower the overall exposure a tad.
Envious of your trip, looking forward to more.

[gail bisson]

Gail, I thought you did your 1000th post and split!

Nah...I'm hooked. BPN is my drug of choice
Gail

[arash_hazeghi]

very well done, I would put the bird a bit upper in the frame but I would not touch the eye. I find that if you brighten the eye in birds that have dark eyes like KFs or Terns it makes them look unnatural compared to the real life bird

[Robert Holguin]

Real nice shot. Great looking KF and you captured it very well. Great pose and perch, and I really like how the two little leaves frame it.
Well done.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gail, seems like you had a great trip, and will have returned with numerous different species ranging from this little jewel to Elephants. I like the pose, and how the malachite is framed between the two tufts of reed. The colours are spot on, and I would leave the eye. Another vote for moving him up in the frame.

[Gary Esman]

Only 5000? . Welcome back and you have produced a pearl. Nice look back pose, sharp, nice placement in the frame. I like how the background has produced an "X" and it is placed right behind him. Did you plan that? If you lighten the eye at all I would only lighten the catch light area. Very nice Gail.

Gary

[Dumay de Boulle]

Those are some great photographers you got to spend time with...Im sure you had a great time and learnt a ton. Great image, love the colors and the comp is nicely balanced by the leaves and perch.

[PRABIR BHATTACHARYYA]

Beautifully captured image, Gail!
If at all, I may hike up the exposure of the eye a little bit in post processing.
Looking forward to more from you.
Thanks for sharing.

[Melissa Groo]

Welcome back, Gail! Lovely portrait of this kingfisher. Those colors are just breathtaking. Nice pose and comp, would like to see it positioned upwards a wee bit more too. Looking forward to more from your trip!

[gail bisson]

A bit late but I like to post my reworked version. All I did was move the bird higher in frame but had to add a bit of canvas on the bottom