Purple Swamphen

Gallery: AvianPosted March 26, 2012257 views16 comments

Also called the African Purple Gallinule.
Not often seen out of the reeds, much less in the air.
Needless to say I was stoked with this. I have one with a nice full wing-stretch but really liked the pose here.

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f7.1 @ 1/3200 SS @ ISO-2500
Fair crop as it was some distance from the hide I was in

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on March 26, 2012 at 5:32 PM

Weird looking bird and great shot. Maybe a little less centered with crop of left and top. Those are a pair of legs

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Geoff Powell on March 26, 2012 at 6:05 PM

This is an awesome shot. As someone who only has shots of this colorful bird from the reeds, I certainly appreciate it. Nice angle, clarity, eye contact, etc. Well done.

Registered on March 20, 2012, 21 Posts, 170 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 26, 2012 at 7:11 PM

MY! What BIG feet you have! What a very nice image and I think your centered crop works ok here...as your are really showing off this bird and it's position. Great bg, light and colors. Very fun image, too! Thanks for posting. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Sally Wood on March 26, 2012 at 7:31 PM

Beautiful image.. colors of the bird are exquisite, and the background is beautiful.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on March 26, 2012 at 7:43 PM

Terrific image Morkel, I'd be stoked with this capture as well. Excellent detail, great action, and what wonderful colors! Congrats

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 26, 2012 at 8:20 PM

Awesome pose . Gotta love those running legs. Great colors and i understand your choice of crop to keep the water spray. Perhaps a little added to the left if you have it?

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 26, 2012 at 11:29 PM

Awesome action photo of this beauty Morkel!!! Those are some huge feet

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 27, 2012 at 12:20 AM

I don't think I've ever seen one in the air. Well-captured. Pretty amazing feet, too. Excellent capture and great techs.

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

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on March 27, 2012 at 7:02 AM

This is a really spunky shot! I love the enormous feet!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 27, 2012 at 3:46 PM

Thanks for the feedback, folks...

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 28, 2012 at 6:06 AM

Fantastic shot Morkel - the tangled feet and feather detail are superb

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on March 28, 2012 at 12:52 PM

Awesome action shot, Morkel. Great pose, great light and really nice background. Congrats on a great image.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 28, 2012 at 2:12 PM

Not much to say except very nice work.

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

Comment posted by Verdon on March 28, 2012 at 5:41 PM

great moment and amazing colors!!!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on March 29, 2012 at 12:26 PM

Very cool!

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 8, 2012 at 7:45 AM

I really appreciate all the kind comments, folks!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments