Typical male!

The Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

Most shots you see of this bird have been taken side on to highlight the huge red pouch they inflate like a ballon, during the breeding season. Thought this was a different POV 'Head on' focusing on the eyes allowing a slight movement in the bill to convey it calling to it's mate, whilst still puffing out it's magnificent chest. The almost inky black of the feathers frames this wonderful red pouch extremely well which you cannot, not notice. The pouch has an almost skin elasticity like quality close up.

Wished I could take credit for the crop, LOL

MKIII 70-200 f/2.8 1/250 f/11 ISO 400 (HH< cropped width only to 50%)

Very eye-catching, and an original viewpoint as most pictures show them from the side. A shame you could not get the whole beak in focus, but I guess you cannot have everything.

David

The beak blur doesn't bother me and adds to the sense of its movement . A fine crop well executed .The base of the chest looks clipped with little detail in there .That scarlet is sure impressive .

A fine crop and well executed image.

Phil.

Great shot Stephen! Beak blur doesnt bother me either as it shows how fast the beak is moving in this display. The crop would be good as a book mark! Where was this taken? Regards
Ian

You are a hard 'task master' David but a 1/250 sec you are not going to get the beak sharp sadly, plus I feel that if it was a 'frozen' then it might not have the impact I was after?

Mark I deliberately wanted a solid black as the detail is so fine it would not have help, so opted for a solid. If I am allowed, might pop it into bebing...

Cheers Phil, appreciated.

Ian, taken in the Galápagos during the breeding season.

Bebing ? Yeh right ...you certainly know how to make friends and influence people .LOL
Cheers mate....
I'll go for runner up then!

I think I commented on these Steve before,saw them on your website and they are stunning birds captured really well,love this

Just stop it............you know what I'm like with Frigates.....

Stick it in Beb, don't let that Davies geezer have all the glory..

My only nit is I just wish you'd cropped it dead central - it's annoyingly off to the left...

High impact image with the black setting the red off nicely, Personally i would like a sharp beak but thats just me-crop works well

Dave

Cheers Craig.

Mr Astbury, if you take the top of the beak it is, however you are quite right, the body is off centre. When mounted (in a frame) that has been taken into consideration.

Re Beb, Andy, I didn't say I wouldn't, as one of his other 'chums' & I have been locking antlers over the past three months, so... Nice to see you have come out of hibernation at last.

Steve

I can't see anything I don't like at all there Steve. Well thought out and executed image and definitely very striking.
eric

Very different and very striking well done Steve
Bronia

Beak's fine, for me it adds movement/story to the pic. The eyes & the chest are sharp so not a problem at all. I think had the BG been neutral (and/or darker), it'd make the image even more striking.

Des

What's not to like it is a loveley image


Calum

I've seen the exact same composition from Andy Rouse, although his shot retains focus on the beak and the red areas a lot better, although his focus isn't as strong in the eyes and the positioning is slightly more to the right. I think a more diffused background and sharper beak area onto the pouch area would have allowed this to be first class image. There is normally quite a lot of detail within the beak to the pouch. Nevertheless a good attempt at something I don't have and would like to shoot...

Ian

Thats an off the wall image buy it works very well , nice to see somthing a bit differnt.

Bob.