Rainbow bee-eater

[Steve Kaluski]

• Canon EOS R3
• EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III
• ƒ/5.6
• 700mm
• 1/2000s
• ISO 500
• Steve Kaluski
• Tue, 24 January 2023 9:53 AM
• www.untamedimages.co.uk
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 12.3 (Macintosh)

Coming back to camp we would often have to cross 'Smelly Crossing', with its massive under water boulders and a pod of four hippos frequenting the more deeper area of the river. Thank goodness for 4x4 Land Cruisers as the crossing with its underneath boulders did at times, make it quiet challenging, especially first thing in the morning or at night, both in darkness!!!

Close to the beginning to the exit bank there was a few Rainbow bee-eaters that congregated on the small branches so we had to get back onto dry land and then go back on ourselves to try and photograph them, but they had a challenging comfort zone so you had to work slightly further away. Then it was just a case of waiting for one or two to land on a clear branch with, or without prey. The branch is what it is, no option to place a 'nice' perch for them to land on.

Thanks to those who posted or viewed the previous posting.

Steve

Subject: Rainbow bee-eater (Merops ornatus)
Location: Massai Mara
Camera: Canon EOS R3
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III HH
Exposure: 1/2000s at f/5.6 ISO500
Original format: Portrait, very small crop
Processed via: LRC 12.4 & PS '23 24.6.0

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

Superb detail, Steve. This is what strikes me most when I look at your images. Great IQ, clarity, beautiful colours. Love the background. I have a 4x4 Landcruiser for you anytime you decide to come visit. And plenty of Bee Eaters :5

Warmest regards,

 

[Steve Kaluski]

WOW, that was quick, hope you are feeling a bit better.

This is what strikes me most when I look at your images.

You are too kind Gabriela, they were fun to photograph and are so colourful. Now Artie has very kindly pushed me into going 'Full Manual' it might just add to the end result, but at least the recent 'issue' has been resolved.

I have a 4x4 Landcruiser for you anytime you decide to come visit.

Definitely, it's a date and Carl can Guide. :cheers:

 

[kevin Hice]

Steve a wonderful image and what grabs me initially are those soft background colors. Backgrounds can make or break a great image. IMO. As Gabriela mentioned you do have a technique to bring out the details A superb image all the way and love the story . TFS

 

[Ian McLachlan]

Very nice and agree with all above especially the care you take with B/G'S. Maybe the colloquial name for these is Rainbow but I would be surprised if its a Merops Ornatus as they are the Australian Bee Eater of which we only have one, and I doubt they have set up shop in Kenya though we have a few birds from Africa which have done so here. Looks a bit like a Little Bee Eater to me .

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Steve ... Bee Eaters are very attractive subjects .

Lovely details in the subject and you did well with the less ideal light , nicely isolated from BG .... the BG looks interesting because of the color variations .

Shooting angle is what it is , not much you could have done about the fact .... albeit a different would have been nicer for you and the viewer .

Personally I think the black throat patch is too dense .

Nice one and TFS Andreas

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

WOW, that was quick, hope you are feeling a bit better.



You are too kind Gabriela, they were fun to photograph and are so colourful. Now Artie has very kindly pushed me into going 'Full Manual' it might just add to the end result, but at least the recent 'issue' has been resolved.



Definitely, it's a date and Carl can Guide. :cheers:

It's a date, Steve:5

 

[Daniel Cadieux]

Sounds like an adventure!! I do wish you had a better light angle to light the belly area, but I love the colours, background, composition. A bit steep too, but not too bad.

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Super quality, the angle and the light less than ideal but I think you did a great job.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Only just got Jon's notification, so apologies in the lateness of reply.

Kevin it all stems from the original and I really do very little to the file, however you don't seem to have any problems based on the Puffin flight shot.

Ian, I think they are all the same family

Agree Andreas, but done before the two new monitors

Dan/Jon, sadly no choice on the timing for the light, just have to take what you are dealt, might be different in the future... :w3

 

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Lovely image. How an Australian / SE Asian species ended up in the Mara is a mystery.

To me it looks like a Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus)

 

[Steve Kaluski]

It is Ákos, where Rainbow came from who knows! :Whoa!: