Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike

[avkomp]

recently we had quite a lot of these hanging around but have since moved on.

d5 600f4 tc17 (1000mm) 1/125 f8 iso 1600 full frame image but cropped to portrait

[Toddyh]

Super sharp Stephen. I wonder if darkening the background would make the bird pop more.

[avkomp]

thanks mate. not sure about the background either. could be right too but I am a lazy lazy man.

[Toddyh]

Haha we've all been there.

[Grumpy John]

You said lazy twice, so you're not that lazy

[Isac]

Lovely work Stephen. Nice detail and colours. We have the black faced cuckoo shrikes flitting around at our lake most days. It's a bit difficult to get a good exposure with them because of their pitch black face - but I keep trying.

[RossW]

Great shot Stephen nice and sharp. I wouldn't touch the background, I like it as it is.

[Grumpy John]

Lovely work Stephen. Nice detail and colours. We have the black faced cuckoo shrikes flitting around at our lake most days. It's a bit difficult to get a good exposure with them because of their pitch black face - but I keep trying.

Stephen, I'm not sure if you have captured the same variety of shrike that Isac mentions but you have done a wonderful job of exposure every detail of the bird is crystal clear.

[avkomp]

Thanks John.
i believe it is the same species.
as for the exposure, is the sweet light that did the work. If you have 2 tone birds, harsh light will blow the whites, or block the blacks or both. This was shot after the sun had gone. Looked like a big soft box was in use too. Everything was going to be even.

[Grumpy John]

You've gotta love the soft in the evenings and with grey skies.

[Gaz]

Works for me. Wonderful wonderful detail for these guys -