Avian - 2nd HM

Gallery: EPA 2012Posted March 15, 20122,195 views39 comments

2nd Honorable Mention - Avian

Blue-tailed Bee Eater

On our drive back to Singapore a couple of weeks ago from the montane region of Malaysia, I decided to detour and show Bob Steele this padi-field area to photograph this Bee-eater. I had not been there in two years or so and found fewer birds than before. We only had about 35 minutes but this bird was most accommodating! This Bee-eater winters in Malaysia/Singapore and is very widespread.

1D MkIV, 300mm f2.8 + 2.0X, handheld, afternoon light. Thanks for looking.

Comments

39 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 15, 2012 at 8:01 PM

Beautiful image KC, very nice!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on March 15, 2012 at 8:10 PM

What is there to say ??
Great stuff !
JR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on March 15, 2012 at 8:18 PM

Beautiful image. Color, action, focus, comp., and background are just great.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 15, 2012 at 8:51 PM

Gorgeous - beautiful bird in a great pose, tack-sharp, wonderful BG and an interesting perch.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 15, 2012 at 11:51 PM

Awesome landing pose and timing here Kwan, nice bg too, thanks for sharing.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on March 16, 2012 at 2:30 AM

Excellent wing/tail spread. I too like the varied background colors.

I'll be in Malaysia in a couple days, so I'll have to keep an eye out for these beauties.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 16, 2012 at 4:40 AM

Incredible photograph Kwan!!! Your timing was perfect. Great landing catch with excellent detail, love multi-toned background too.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Carlette Bragg on March 16, 2012 at 7:28 AM

I agree with everyone else, Wonderful!

Registered on March 19, 2009, 76 Posts, 387 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on March 16, 2012 at 7:48 AM

Terrific pose n wonderful image !
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on March 16, 2012 at 9:39 AM

Really nice image. The pose of the bird is fantastic as is the sharpness. The perch adds interest, but the background really makes this image sing for me. That wonderfully soft graduated background really compliments the entire frame. Super image

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 16, 2012 at 11:04 AM

Wonderful timing to get this, I like the wing spread, perch, colors and background...., actually I like everything about this, way to cool, excellent shot.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on March 16, 2012 at 2:14 PM

Maybe a bit tight on the framing, but still an outstanding image and well composed.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on March 16, 2012 at 6:51 PM

Excellent work, one of the best sample photo for 2.0X TC. TFS.

Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on March 16, 2012 at 7:19 PM

A sensational image KC, in every way-congrats.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 16, 2012 at 9:47 PM

A beauty!!

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 16, 2012 at 9:56 PM

Really nice light and a great pose too. You made great with the 30 minutes you had for this one. Amazing under wing detail.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on March 16, 2012 at 10:24 PM

Stunning pict. Love the color.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on March 17, 2012 at 1:10 AM

I don't know how you keep doing this, Kwan. Just beautiful.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 17, 2012 at 1:16 AM

Great wing and tail spread KC. I had Chestnut-headeds doing the same thing at Cat Tien in Vietnam and no camera.

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on March 17, 2012 at 5:29 AM

only one word: WOW!!

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Sally Wood on March 17, 2012 at 8:14 AM

Wow, beautiful, so exotic, sure don't find those in Virginia!

Registered on March 8, 2012, 39 Posts, 509 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on March 17, 2012 at 11:42 AM

KC, this is just awesome. Incredible lighting, great pose, interesting perch, beautiful background. It has it all. Superb!!!!!!!!!

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on March 17, 2012 at 2:01 PM

A fantastic image indeed- Love all the elements of this shot- My best congrats, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 18, 2012 at 10:28 AM

Awesome colors and detail KC. Really nice.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on March 18, 2012 at 4:42 PM

Just stunning! Wonderful work.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 19, 2012 at 1:50 PM

everything about this one is awesome, KC! I especially love the colors and bg.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 21, 2012 at 12:09 PM

Congrats om a fine WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 21, 2012 at 12:26 PM

Wonderful, Kwan. A superb photo. A beautiful pose in terrific light. Congratulations on a well-deserved EP.

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

Comment posted by Craig Myers on March 21, 2012 at 2:09 PM

What a grand pose. Wonderfully captured.

Registered on September 1, 2008, 85 Posts, 757 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on March 21, 2012 at 3:16 PM

A simply spectacular shot Kwan. Big congrats on the WP!

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on March 21, 2012 at 4:24 PM

This is simply gorgeous! What a beautiful bird! Congratulations on the WP, it well deserved!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on March 23, 2012 at 1:10 PM

Definite winner KC.
May

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

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on April 14, 2012 at 10:11 PM

WOW! I just love the colours in this species! I'm still wishing these guys were in Alberta...

Congrats on the WP!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 5, 2013 at 1:50 PM

Kwan, congrats for the 2012 "2nd Honorable Mention - Avian" win - your images of the bee-eaters are just stunning!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 7, 2013 at 9:36 AM

Congrats on your 2nd Honorable Mention- Avian award KC. Wonderful image.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on January 7, 2013 at 3:34 PM

Fine detail and good composition, KC

Congratulations,
Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Diffley on January 8, 2013 at 1:19 PM

Stunning capture KC and well deserved 2nd place HM.

Registered on April 8, 2012, 52 Posts, 279 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 10, 2013 at 1:10 AM

See, Kwan.... I told you this was a good shot! Seiously though.... congratulations!

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 15, 2013 at 1:06 PM

Congratulations, Kwan. This must have been posted when I was out. It's gorgeous.

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