Burchell's Coucal (High Key)

[Morkel Erasmus]

This elusive bird is rarely seen as out in the open as this. The weather was abysmal, but provided me with an opportunity to create a high-impact high key rendition, enhanced by the wet look of his plumage after the previous night's incessant rain.

Taken recently in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa.

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f4.0 @ 1/500 SS @ ISO-2500
handheld
EV +1.7
I don't normally go for a square crop but I did it here to maximise detail at web size and to limit the amount of dead space.

[gail bisson]

Hi Morkel,
This is great. Very rare to see this coucal much less photograph one out in the open. Love the cocked tail and head position. I like square comps so am happy with this! Good detail at ISO 2500. I know you don't clone but guess what I want cloned out!!!
Gail

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Mork, super look-back pose, and this is incredibly sharp. I really like the high key effect in this, and the colours of the coucal pop so well. If this were mine, I would have gone with a traditional landscape comp.

[Bill Holsten]

Great pose and detail, Morkel. You did a good job of keeping the whole bird in the focal plane. Coucals always look to me like they could benefit from a visit to the barber shop.
Bill

[dankearl]

Wild looking bird, Morkel. The high key looks nice.
i also think you could crop off the bottom and have a traditional comp.

[Frank Schauf]

Nice portrait, great details and sharpness.

[Randy Stout]

Morkel:

I don't mind squarish crops if the lines inside the frame add some interest, and the way the birds lines/angles work with the frame is fine for me. You could crop a sliver off top however.

I like the well controlled noise, wet plumage, eye, pose.

Yes, could clone out the snag.

Cheers

Randy

[Sid Garige]

Killer high key image Morkel.

[Arno Ellmer]

A very creative image under extreme conditions,Morkel ! I love the pose and the sharpness .

[supreet.sahoo]

High key images have always been something that has me interested. This one specially is a really detailed one. I have grown up in India watching the indian cousins of this bird (Greater Coucal). Wonderful bird and a really good image.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks for the kind feedback, folks.