Lilac-Breasted Roller Taking Off

Lilac-Breasted Roller Taking Off

One of the most beautiful birds in Africa, arguably the most beautiful one, is the Lilac-Breasted Roller. The combination of colors is mesmerizing, but do not be fooled by the beauty and colors. This is one skilled hunter, grabbing insects with ease. Watching them fly is even more intoxicating, as their wings reveal hues of blue. A sight to behold.

This photo shows one a moment after taking off from a tree, with the wings fully extended.

What do I like about this photo? The beautiful subject, in a dynamic pose. The spread wings are wonderful, especially with the feathers each flying into its own direction in the air. I used a fast shutter speed (1/2500 of a second) to freeze the action, so the Roller is sharp despite the rapid movement. The amount of detail is pretty good as well.

What would I want to improve? A background of another color would have been better, since the Roller has so much blue hues anyway...