Lesser Striped Swalllow

[Stu Bowie]

I visited my favourite location in the Pilanesberg nature reserve in December, and came away with this swallow showing off with a feather. These guys normally make their nests from mud, so Im sure the feather was for his bed. Taken early morning in overcast conditions. I had a choice by positioning myself, of a water BG, or this BG which is distant OOF reeds.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/400
F/6.3
ISO 640

Exp Comp 0
Hand held

[dankearl]

A great looking bird, I am not sure about the feather,
It sort of covers the birds head.
A nice perch and great DOF, everything in focus.

[Mital Patel]

dangerously killer shot bhai

[Jonathan Ashton]

Stu I think beyond any doubt you chose the right background, the more I look the more I can appreciate complementary colours. I like the pose and the composition, the size in the frame is good, as ever noise is pretty much unappreciable and the detail is excellent. I am slightly surprised at the intensity of the catchlight in the eye given the conditions you describe, did you brighten the eye and lores a little bit?

[Chris Martinez]

Youch!!! This is brilliant.

Love the way in which the bird is peaking through the feather. Sure will make thing cosy at the nest
Perch has some character.

[Mark Itol]

A very fine image. Cool perch, excellent detail, and sweet creamy background.

[Sachin Saraf]

What a fantastic capture Stu...Simply superb..BG is beautiful and really compliments the bird and not to mention the precise composition..

[Stu Bowie]

I am slightly surprised at the intensity of the catchlight in the eye given the conditions you describe, did you brighten the eye and lores a little bit?

Thanks Jon. Yes, I lightened the eye, and enhanced the catchlight.

Thanks to everyone else for the feedback too.

[gail bisson]

Hi Stu,
What a lovely little bird. The colors and composition are really nice. The IQ is excellent as well and the BG is yummy. I too, am not sure about the feather. I look at this image and find myself wishing I could see the face. But having said that, it is nice to see something out of the ordinary. Do you have any more shots where you can see more of the face?
Gail

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful pic Stuart!! Love the background, excellent perch, the detail is phenomenal, great comp, and I personally don't mind the feather. It gives the bird some kind of mysterious character.
Well done.

[Stu Bowie]

Do you have any more shots where you can see more of the face?
Gail

Thanks Gail. I have plenty with a clear view of the head and beak. I will post one soon.

Thanks Robert for your feedback too.

[Carmelo Cannova]

Wow I really like this shot. The colors , the BG , the perch are making this a fine capture.

Carmelo

[Dan Brown]

Fantastic image! I love the HA, it gives the bird personality!

[Stu Bowie]

Carmelo, Dan, thanks for your feedback.