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Pygmy Kingfisher
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Pygmy Kingfisher

by Ellen deBoer

Gallery: AvianPosted December 13, 2009151 views8 comments
This American pygmy kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea) is so small that we first overlooked it. We were looking at a Green kingfisher very close to this little one.
I made this image during a river safari in Tortuguerro NP in Costa Rica.

D300, Sigma170-500@380mm, 1/250, F6.3, ISO800, tripod. :wavey:

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 13, 2009 at 8:07 AM
Ellen,

The greens in the background really help the kingfisher to stand out.

Looking at the larger version the bird looks a touch soft and the background seems a little noisy, perhaps a bit more selective sharpening on the bird?

I like the pose of the kingfisher and how the branch it is perched on traverses through the frame, I also like your choice of composition.
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Bryan Hix on December 13, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Agree with all the above comments. Would add that parts of the perch are OE and need some selective toning down. Neat little bird! :smile:
Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 13, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Great pose and I like your comp Ellen, I agree it's a little soft, it doesn't look like you had much light to work with and it's tough shooting from a boat. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Monica Siri on December 13, 2009 at 1:54 PM
I like the pose, the perch and the bg color.
As Mia said, the bird seems a little soft.
Overall, very nice comp.
Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments
Comment posted by Ravee Wattanatanak on December 13, 2009 at 3:01 PM
It look like Common Kingfisher over here to me but you got a nice shot.
Registered on December 12, 2008, 105 Posts, 786 Comments
Comment posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on December 13, 2009 at 3:26 PM
The noise could be the result of hefty cropping too. If it were mine I'd place the bird even higher and to the left. Lovely looking little fellow indeed. A touch soft as mentioned. I don't think having the semi-transparent signature across your big image is necessary, I feel it takes away the impact the image has. :smile:
Registered on April 24, 2004, 25 Posts, 510 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 13, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Did you use noise reduction on this Ellen ? Its a beauty of a Kingfisher, but I agree on it being soft :smile:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 13, 2009 at 8:16 PM
A lovely bird in a great pose Ellen. I like the setting too. My only issue is the slight softness, but 1/250 and apparently in a boat - there are some laws of physics we're bound to.
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments