Fischer's Lovebird

Gallery: AvianPosted July 6, 2011216 views10 comments

Posting after a long time! Have been busy with work (transplants), and conferences (Prague) this month, but also took time off to visit Kenya/Tanzania in May. Just got around to post-processing these images and will be able to post some images in the next few weeks.
The best place to photograph these beautiful birds is in Ndutu, in southern Serengeti, Tanzania. There are abut 5 different kinds of lovebirds in East Africa (which includes Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi). The Fischer's Lovebird is bright green with an orange-red face, red bill, white eye-ring, and a yellow collar.
I have several images, but chose this as I like the oof birds in the bg, trying to land on the perch. I would particularly like your views on this. Are you ok with them?
Species: Agapornis fischeri, 15cm, 6"
Location: Ndutu, Tanzania
Equip: Canon 1D Mlll, Canon 500 f4 with 1.4 TC
Specs: ISO 400, 1/800s, f 7.1, Gitzo tripod and Wimberley

Thank you for taking time out to look, and for your comments/critiques.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 6, 2011 at 9:39 AM

Beautiful, Ajit. The oof birds do draw my eye a little bit, but not badly. If there is a drawback to having them in there, they seem to pull my eye away from that beautiful perch more than from the foreground bird.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 6, 2011 at 10:45 AM

I understand why you left them in, but I think they add little to the comp. My personal taste would be to keep it simple and leave them out, but others may disagree.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on July 6, 2011 at 3:03 PM

I really don't have a preference for either a simple shot, with just the one bird, or this photo as presented. To me, they would both be good presentations, for their own purposes. I know a lot of people like the very clean backgrounds, no clutter, simple perch, etc., but to me there's always a place for shots like this. Shots like this help tell a story, something you just don't get with the bird on a stick approach. With the single bird on the perch, you don't get the story this photo tells, about the social nature of this bird.

I like this very much, as presented. And welcome back!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on July 6, 2011 at 4:40 PM

Love the image with the OOF birds. Well done.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 6, 2011 at 7:27 PM

Ajit, I agree with Terry. I'd have liked this with or without the background birds. Different types of photos - both with their place. Since the background birds are moving to our right the image seems slightly tight on that side to me.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 6, 2011 at 7:43 PM

I love this shot and wouldn't change a thing. The out of focus bird appears to be looking at the bird in focus, and brings my eye back to the main subject. Wonderful work,

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 6, 2011 at 10:56 PM

I love the colors and the natural perch. While the addition of the birds is cool I think the location of the birds in the frame is distracting

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on July 7, 2011 at 12:42 AM

A stunningly colored bird. I think if I had this species in my binos it would sear my eyeballs. I like the OOF birds in back: they tell a story, that this is a social bird that share perches and behaviors. Excellent techs and a fine image as posted.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on July 7, 2011 at 10:08 PM

Beautiful colors. I like it as a group photo, but agree a little more room on the right would be better.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on July 8, 2011 at 4:55 PM

Wonderful action, love that the perched bird is in focus and that the birds coming into the picture are blurred.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments