European Bee-eater - mating

Gallery: AvianPosted April 26, 20053,666 views29 comments

1D Mark II, Canon 300 2.8, x2, HH, hide, 1/1600, f-8, iso 320

I am still visiting my family and friends in Israel going back to Australia in three days. I had big hopes for this visit as it is spring in Israel and it's a great place for bird photography with millions of migrating birds all over the place. However, the weather in the first two weeks was bad for photography and I was pretty upset to leave empty handed. Last Sunday was sunny at last...(-;

Comments would be appreciated

75% of full frame.

Comments

29 comments

Comment posted by Pei-hsin Hsu on April 26, 2005 at 1:38 PM

This is one of the most spellbinding photographs I've seen from this forum.

Superb both aesthetically and technically, Ofer!

The breeding season of North America has just begun. Last week I almost made an impetuous decision to post a photo of the same genre, now I am glad I did not. Given the paragon of beauty you presented here, well, I have to practice, practice and practice. Congrats again, Ofer!

Registered on January 1, 2004, 21 Posts, 196 Comments

Comment posted by Lesley Mattuchio on April 26, 2005 at 2:02 PM

WOW...worth the wait, Ofer.

Registered on July 14, 2004, 36 Posts, 322 Comments

Comment posted by Edgar Russell on April 26, 2005 at 2:17 PM

WOW

Registered on June 23, 2004, 22 Posts, 145 Comments

Comment posted by Meint Sijp on April 26, 2005 at 2:25 PM

what a beautiful photo, the colors sharpnes and the way you've cought the birds as they are on the way.......

just love it.

meint sijp
DK

Registered on November 30, 2003, 76 Posts, 135 Comments

Comment posted by Juza on April 26, 2005 at 2:26 PM

Marvelous image Ofer! It looks like a beautiful painting...I love this bird, I've tried to photograph it but I never get acceptable results...instead, you did very well here!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 374 Posts, 10466 Comments

Comment posted by chris hajee on April 26, 2005 at 2:41 PM

almost unreal Ofer, I am lost for words

Registered on January 18, 2005, 179 Posts, 2384 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Schröder on April 26, 2005 at 3:00 PM

One of the best bird pictures I've ever seen.

Paul

Registered on April 6, 2005, 24 Posts, 68 Comments

Comment posted by renae sandberg on April 26, 2005 at 3:50 PM

So perfect it almost looks more like a painting. Great catch; an absolutly beautiful pic.

Registered on December 29, 2004, 313 Posts, 2476 Comments

Comment posted by Dusty Veideman on April 26, 2005 at 4:59 PM

All I can say is WOW! I am speechless!

Dusty V

Registered on November 1, 2003, 295 Posts, 547 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Steele on April 26, 2005 at 5:15 PM

Ofer, you've posted some pretty fantastic shots, but this one leaves me speechless......

Registered on November 1, 2003, 354 Posts, 13896 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Grey on April 26, 2005 at 5:30 PM

Off-the-scale magnificent image, Ofer!

Registered on December 2, 2003, 144 Posts, 2069 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on April 26, 2005 at 7:39 PM

Fantastic. The flowers put it way over the top!

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

Comment posted by Ernie Kuo on April 26, 2005 at 7:52 PM

Nice shot, Ofer.

Registered on June 10, 2004, 152 Posts, 1089 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 26, 2005 at 8:59 PM

Wonderful photograph

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

Comment posted by Matthew Medeiros on April 26, 2005 at 10:32 PM

This is indeed splendid...

Registered on April 15, 2005, 21 Posts, 164 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on April 27, 2005 at 12:26 AM

Stunning Ofer! Absolutely the best image of yours I've seen. Congratulations.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Garth McElroy on April 27, 2005 at 7:29 AM

Registered on November 1, 2003, 248 Posts, 4406 Comments

Comment posted by richard ettlinger on April 27, 2005 at 8:12 AM

A Stunner!!

Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments

Comment posted by Rajan Desai on April 27, 2005 at 10:14 AM

Pretty much speechless. Great shot.

Registered on March 25, 2005, 32 Posts, 395 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Mahoney on April 27, 2005 at 11:21 AM

I don't know how I missed this one, but this is absolutely spectacular. Gorgeous birds with simply wonderful action! Outstanding!

Registered on January 14, 2005, 45 Posts, 232 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Royse on April 27, 2005 at 3:11 PM

Great catch in a beautiful setting!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 218 Posts, 2427 Comments

Comment posted by William Shields on April 27, 2005 at 7:41 PM

Awesome photograph

Registered on November 12, 2003, 0 Posts, 7 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Dance on April 28, 2005 at 12:25 PM

Add me to the list of admirers...

Registered on April 7, 2005, 65 Posts, 428 Comments

Comment posted by Daniella T. on April 30, 2005 at 8:58 PM

wow, gorgious bird and gorgious photo!

Registered on January 9, 2004, 41 Posts, 512 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Van Rafelghem on May 18, 2005 at 1:57 AM

Registered on November 25, 2003, 82 Posts, 300 Comments

Comment posted by Daniella T. on May 30, 2005 at 12:09 AM

wow, this is stunning!!

Registered on January 9, 2004, 41 Posts, 512 Comments

Comment posted by David Kjaer on January 17, 2006 at 5:08 AM

Stunning!!!

Regards

Registered on January 4, 2006, 128 Posts, 4170 Comments

Comment posted by Gregory Lazzaro on September 3, 2006 at 12:29 PM

Excellent shot, good detail and color. I might have been tempted to increase highlights just a bit to bring in the detail of the whites.

Greg

Registered on September 2, 2006, 39 Posts, 143 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on March 13, 2018 at 7:55 PM

Wow, lovely romantic setting for this interlude. Wonderful colors and composition.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments