ERIKA NIELSEN

Canon PowerShot SX210 IS

ERIKA WRITES: This is the first time I’m sending a photo for Take Your Pic. Photography is my hobby and I mainly shoot landscapes and wildlife. I took this picture of a young Cape sugarbird while on a walk in Hermanus. I returned to the area for three days running, as the sugarbirds were hanging out in the same spot. This one thoroughly enjoyed his moment of fame while posing for the camera.

TOAST SAYS: First time lucky, Erika! Cape sugarbirds can be relaxed in patches of fynbos where they feel safe. Erika did the right thing by revisiting that specific spot for a couple of days. This will greatly improve your chances of getting a good, tight shot. Not only will you know where they’re likely to be sitting and which backgrounds might look best, but the birds will probably also get used to you and realise you’re not a threat.

While the sugarbird’s head and chest are both perfectly displayed in side profile, with a sparkle in the eye, I actually find the foreground and background elements more interesting. The shapes formed by the pincushion flowers give the shot a graphic quality, like wallpaper.

Every part of the frame is filled with something to look at. Nothing is wasted, and every element contributes to a brilliant, “definitive” shot of a Cape sugarbird. Well done!