Piers Blackett
April 2026 - Flamingo siesta
Original
Original 2
About the Image(s)
The Flamingo enclosure at the Oklahoma City Zoo has a new high fence making it a challenge for photographers, however I found a vantage point with good lighting and a Flamingo in an unusual sleeping pose. My settings were f 5.6, 1/500, ISO 125, with an RF 100-500 lens at 324 mm.
In post production I changed the background to black thinking it would contrast well with pink. Then I considered the shades on the feathers would show well in monochrome.
7 comments posted
Great editing skills in removing all the distractions from the subject. You captured a fantastic pose and much feather detail. I would have much preferred the color version with the black background over the monochrome. Posted: 04/07/2026 09:59:05
Piers, I like the composition of this image and that single "beady" eye looking at the camera.
Like Karen, I think I prefer the coloured version rather than the B&W.
I had to look twice when I first saw this image. It looked to me that the flamingo was supported on a leg made out of a 3/8" (10mm) diameter steel reinforcing bar.
Your image is tack sharp and there is great detail in the feathers, which are not blown out.
Well done this is a great image! Posted: 04/08/2026 01:23:20
Like Karen, I think I prefer the coloured version rather than the B&W.
I had to look twice when I first saw this image. It looked to me that the flamingo was supported on a leg made out of a 3/8" (10mm) diameter steel reinforcing bar.
Your image is tack sharp and there is great detail in the feathers, which are not blown out.
Well done this is a great image! Posted: 04/08/2026 01:23:20
Martin, I had to laugh when I read your comments - given your professional background. Posted: 04/15/2026 09:21:26
Piers, Your image is very similar to my Roseate Spoonbill image from last month. I like it very much - especially the single eye visible over the back.
My preference for a very colorful and unique bird such as this Flamingo is the color version. I like what you did to eliminate the background clutter. Given that the eye is so important in this composition (as it is in all bird photography) it gets lost in the BW version. It's now just part of the grey-ness.
For reference, I have a very similar (color) image hanging on the wall in my house. I did not take that particular image, but I like it very much. It is just the body, head resting against its back, no legs. I took the liberty of doing a similar style with yours. I feel it's much more intimate.
Apologies to Martin for removing his favorite portion of the image Posted: 04/15/2026 09:53:49
My preference for a very colorful and unique bird such as this Flamingo is the color version. I like what you did to eliminate the background clutter. Given that the eye is so important in this composition (as it is in all bird photography) it gets lost in the BW version. It's now just part of the grey-ness.
For reference, I have a very similar (color) image hanging on the wall in my house. I did not take that particular image, but I like it very much. It is just the body, head resting against its back, no legs. I took the liberty of doing a similar style with yours. I feel it's much more intimate.
Apologies to Martin for removing his favorite portion of the image Posted: 04/15/2026 09:53:49
Posted: 04/15/2026 09:55:30
Thanks for your interesting suggestions Jim. Yes I think the eye above the flowing feathers has more focus. To take your concept further I would prefer to crop even tighter bringing the eye to the upper right one third junction. Posted: 04/15/2026 15:20:36
I thought of that (1/3) for the eye, but chose to let you proceed with it if you chose.
For additional reference, I lightened up the eye just a bit to make it more prominent.
Posted: 04/16/2026 00:53:10
For additional reference, I lightened up the eye just a bit to make it more prominent.
Posted: 04/16/2026 00:53:10