Lilac-breasted Roller

Gallery: AvianPosted November 20, 2013335 views18 comments

Photographed on our Chobe, Botswana extension this summer. This bird is very common in that area. While we were waiting around for elephants and other game to come into the bunker waterhole we occupied ourselves photographing this bird and some hornbills which kept landing on this perch. I was happy to catch it in this pose.

Canon 5D3 500F4 1/1600 F6.3, iso 800, manual exposure

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on November 20, 2013 at 9:37 PM

Freakin awesome! Fantastic wing position. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on November 20, 2013 at 10:03 PM

Hi Nate,

The subject may be common in the Chobe area of Botswana, but it is beautiful. I like how the fast shutter speed froze it in place and ensured sharp detail. Very nice capture.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on November 21, 2013 at 12:39 AM

Awesome action capture of this beauty Nate

Excellent detail, great wing spread and fanned out tail.

Sweet One!!!

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 21, 2013 at 1:44 AM

Very nice, Nate. This species is a must have in flight, but I can't say I've ever seen a shot of one landing. Really impressive.

Max

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 21, 2013 at 2:54 AM

Nate,
Although this is probably the most photographed bird in Africa, it still retains great impact, Great flight pose and thankfully you have retained the natural colours, just a pity you did not have a bluer sky

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on November 21, 2013 at 3:30 AM

An iconic African bird Nate. Possibly the most photographed of all, but you've captured a corker here.
All feathers splayed and markings showing off beautifully.
I assume the lighting was so-so as the colours are not as vibrant as they can be.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 21, 2013 at 4:24 AM

The quintessential LB Roller shot Nate - just what I dreamed about for 2 years but never got

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on November 21, 2013 at 9:16 AM

Cool shot ! It's always amazing to see the beauty when Rollers have their wings spread ! Congrats, Hans

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on November 21, 2013 at 9:17 AM

Excellent capture. Love the pose. It would have been nice to have a little better light to bring out the shine in the feathers but nothing you could do about that. A great shot.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on November 21, 2013 at 6:23 PM

Excellent exposure against what appears a very difficult background-nice work Nate.

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

Comment posted by David Bogener on November 21, 2013 at 7:22 PM

Nate, awesome landing image. I would not change a thing. Thanks for posting, Dave

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on November 21, 2013 at 7:46 PM

Thanks for your comments everyone! In terms of the lighting, the sun peeked through the clouds low at my back illuminating the bird nicely but as you can see there were clouds in the background making for a gray sky bg.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on November 22, 2013 at 10:16 AM

Excellent timing for this beauty, Nate.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 22, 2013 at 12:35 PM

Gorgeous shot, Nate. Perfect wing position.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on November 23, 2013 at 9:08 AM

Very nice all around, great eye contact as well Nate.
Excellent flight work

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

Comment posted by Rick Andrews on November 25, 2013 at 11:18 AM

Beautiful colour and detail in this shot Nate - Well done!