Flamboyant Birds

There were many excellent images submitted for this contest and, except for my first place choice, picking the top 10 was a difficult task. This kingfisher image checked all the boxes perfectly. The shot is the best kingfisher capture I have ever seen. I am envious.

It would be hard to beat the choice of subject. Colorful kingfishers are clearly flamboyant, both in plumage and in actions. The composition is perfect from the horizontal water line to the nice space in front of the suspended bird. The image is tack sharp and exposed just right. The background offers not a peep of distraction and the reflection in the water adds splendor. The lighting on the “frozen-in-time” water droplets is perfect. After all these good elements, there is the action. And what action there is! This photograph takes me completely into the life and world of kingfishers. I aspire to make images like this.

I had to include this European Goldfinch photo in my top ten on the strength of its technical quality. The contrast between the vivid red face and bright yellow wingbar shouts flamboyancy. The extraordinary sharpness brings out every tiny detail in the plumage. You can almost see the reflection of the photographer in the bird’s eye. The background is perfect and the lichens on the limbs add a nice touch. The branch over the subject’s head is a bit distracting and I prefer not to have the photographer’s name embedded in the image, but otherwise, I can find no fault with this pleasing submission.

With the possible exception of the Painted Bunting of North America, the Lilac-breasted Roller could be the most flamboyant passerine in the world. This showy individual perched on a dead limb makes you want to buy a ticket to Africa just to be there in person. The composition is nice and the background is not distracting. I am not sure how much post processing was done, but I find the color saturation a little more than I prefer. If the photographer’s aim was to drag your attention to this exotic location and sit you down to a feast of color – mission accomplished.

This is the third of four kingfisher entries that I have placed in the top ten. I do not mean to be biased toward kingfishers. Kingfishers were among the best submissions in the contest. Technically, this image is nearly perfect. The angle of the perch passing through the lower left of the photo is right. The bokeh could hardly be better. It never fails to amaze me that some lenses coupled to teleconverters (as in this case, a 500mm + 1.4x) remain super sharp. The bird is alert but not engaged in action. Nevertheless, the beads of water on the subject’s breast hints of recent dives into the fish-filled pool of cool water below. We anticipate the next plunge at any moment. A beautiful photo by a photographer that knows what he or she is doing.

This is a very good photograph and it deserves to be in third place for this contest. I should mention that I spent a good deal of time attempting to identify it to species, and was not successful. I am good with birds in general, but I am not a hummingbird expert. It would have been helpful if a location and other details had been given. That said, I do like the composition and the mix of colors. The image is sharp and the tiny drops of water are a nice touch. The photographer took pains to create this pleasing setup. Hummingbird photography is a special craft and this example presents the work of a practiced artist.

Some viewers might suggest that a Green Heron perched on a mossy dead stump is not flamboyant. One person’s flamboyancy is another person’s ordinary. For me, this arresting photo nicely meets the criteria outlined in the brief. I just could not put it aside.

The image is sharp and the illumination of the green moss is the perfect counterbalance for the rufous and blue-green of the plumage. By close examination, it can be seen that the background is water, probably a lake or pond. However, my first impression was of a heron perched on a mountain ridge (completely out of character for this species). What is going on here? The sense that the bird was out of place, is what halted me. I realize that the trend in bird photography is to avoid portraits (birds on a stick), but I appreciate the blend of colors and fine detail present in this nicely captured image.

How I would love to see a Malachite Kingfisher in the wild. This outstanding image is likely to be as close as I ever get. The thing you notice, after admiring the popping colors, is the composition displaying the action. The two subjects are on a diagonal (from bottom left to upper right), which pulls the eye to the flight path of the landing bird. The overall lighting is beautiful making me wish I could be out with my camera for all golden hours. This photograph is the definition of “capturing the moment.” A nice touch is the “whitewash” on the gnarly wood indicating that the kingfishers have made regular visits to this perch. The talent and skill of the photographer is evident in this remarkable photo.

Sometimes it only takes an eye. Cover up the visible eye on this beautiful photograph of a Spectacled Barwing and the designation “flamboyant” disappears. The white ring around the eye demands that your attention be dead in the middle of this place and time. I love the contrast between the brownness of the bird and the greenness of the forest in which it belongs. I might have removed the limb hanging down from the top and slightly to the left of the bird’s head. I find myself a bit put off by the photographer’s name embedded in the photo, but as a whole, I truly like this image.