Pop of color

The blue-cheeked cordon-bleu is a most sought after bird by photographers… and I am no exception. In some locations, it is a rarity, but in northern Uganda I was lucky enough to see different specimens every day flying around Kidepo Valley National Park. With the right light conditions its colours are amazing and captivating. Only after spending some time with this specimen in particular I noticed that he would perch most of the times in this aloe vera plant. Looking closely I realised that the edges of the plant were bright red matching perfectly with the bird cheeks. The light in Kidepo can be a bit tricky to play with, but in this particular day it was perfect for what I wanted, and it was interesting to play with it and the different positions of the bird every time it would land on this plant. This was my favourite result. I like in particular the position of the bird. It is not the typical front portrait. Being back to the camera and looking to the right I was still able to capture its features and the characteristic red in the cheek, giving the impression that the bird itself was curious with something.
Read less