Lilac-breasted Roller

Gallery: AvianPosted October 7, 2012438 views28 comments

Hi everyone, apologies for my absence from NPN recently, I have just returned from a month of guiding and photographing in Namibia and South Africa. This is an image from our Namibia tour, taken at AfricaFarm Ondekaremba where a pair of this species was fairly approachable in the savannah in front of the lodge. I was pleased to get this shot as I had wanted to get a roller flying, large in the frame. This is a take off shot after the roller had dropped to the ground in pursuit of prey. I wouldn't mind a little more space on the left but I don't have it and I don't like to add canvas unless entirely necessary. It's about 50% of the original.

7D 500F4 1/2500 F5.6, iso 400, handheld

Comments

28 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 7, 2012 at 9:42 AM

Top "flight" image Nate, wonderful wake-up view this morning

I love it as posted, excellent!

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

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on October 7, 2012 at 10:39 AM

Outstanding detail and color and a background to show this bird exquisitely. AAA+++

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on October 7, 2012 at 10:42 AM

Beautiful bird and pose, and I agree...the bg really shows this nicely! Sharon

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 7, 2012 at 12:04 PM

Exquisite! What amazing colours! Wonderful pose in this flight shot, and a perfect BG to showcase the colours.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Jim Nall on October 7, 2012 at 4:13 PM

Nate, if only we had something as beautiful as this in Kentucky! This pose is outstanding showing colors that are gorgeous. This particular flight pose is about as goode as it gets. Detail and lighting are spot on. Nice dof and background. All I can say is go daddy go!

Registered on October 5, 2012, 45 Posts, 168 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 7, 2012 at 5:49 PM

Fantastic, Nate! I, too, have many shots of take-offs where the bird is a bit beyond mid-point in the frame where adding canvas might have been ideal. Here, you have presented it just right given what you have in the full-frame.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 7, 2012 at 6:29 PM

Super flight posture and light under the bird Nate. More room on the left might have been ideal but I think this works very well as presented.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 7, 2012 at 7:41 PM

Stunning shot Nate, detail is exceptional!

Ray

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 7, 2012 at 7:59 PM

Fantastic image caught at just the right time. Focus is solid on the eye and the spread wings are awesome

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

Comment posted by Verdon on October 7, 2012 at 9:10 PM

thats stunning, three thumbs up!!!

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on October 7, 2012 at 9:20 PM

Excellent timing to get this Nate and what a colorful display of feathers. I really like the flight pose so that you get to really appreciate the beauty of this bird, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on October 8, 2012 at 7:29 AM

Nate, this is a stunning shot! Detail on the bird couldn't be better. Superb color & action.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on October 8, 2012 at 10:41 AM

Too cool !
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Bill Maile on October 8, 2012 at 12:04 PM

Beautiful bird, wonderful color and great BG blur. Great Nate!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on October 8, 2012 at 2:07 PM

Wonderful capture Nate.
May

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on October 8, 2012 at 8:07 PM

Very cool image Nate. Nicely captured.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 9, 2012 at 3:32 AM

What a cracker Nate. Superb detail and the perfect pose. Something I yearned for in our two years in Zim but missed although I can use the excuse of the old manual focussing film days

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

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on October 9, 2012 at 6:42 AM

Wonderfull shot of beautiful bird. TFS.

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on October 9, 2012 at 9:05 AM

Great view of this beauty, Nate. Nicely done.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on October 10, 2012 at 6:36 AM

Would be more than happy with a shot like this. Species is still high on my wish list . Well done, cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 10, 2012 at 6:13 PM

Nate, this was the most memorable species I encountered in my only trip to Africa, many years ago. This make me say, "wow!"... a dream perspective, well done! Great work.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Karcz on October 10, 2012 at 8:07 PM

Great shot! These guys are tough to get in flight- I know from trying last year in Kenya. Color and detail is right on.

Registered on November 8, 2009, 25 Posts, 43 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 10, 2012 at 11:50 PM

A beauty Nate.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 11, 2012 at 2:49 AM

Wow, Nate. I'm in awe of this image. Great colors, pose and sharpness. And the bird just pops off the neutral background that contains "just enough" texture. JEALOUS!

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 11, 2012 at 4:44 PM

Very nice. Love the bird's position.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 13, 2012 at 11:53 PM

Freaking Amazing

Incredible flight shot of a awesome bird Nate.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Rebecka on October 28, 2012 at 12:25 PM

Doesn't get any better than this! Can't wait to see more of your images from southern Africa, Nate.

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on October 28, 2012 at 3:46 PM

Like this a lot. The color is stunning.

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