Kingfisher Portrait

Gallery: AvianPosted April 18, 2010241 views29 comments

Mark IV, 800mm, F/11, 1/1300th, natural light

I have not been out much at all this year. What better way to spend an April afternoon then sitting quietly along a stream? This afternoon I was able to to that and was rewarded with this male Kingfisher with prey. For some reason I have many more photos of females than males so this was nice to get.

I hope you enjoy it, please view the larger image if time permits. Comments are always appreciated.

Peter

Comments

29 comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on April 18, 2010 at 9:41 PM

Peter,

One of the best Belted king Fisher shoots I have seen!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Diller on April 18, 2010 at 9:50 PM

Simply awesome...what a close up!

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 18, 2010 at 9:56 PM

I'm aware of your skill at photographing Kingfishers, but this is a really unbelievable. Did you use a photo blind or just patience?

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on April 18, 2010 at 9:56 PM

Peter,
I did enjoy it very much. Wonderful shot.Thanks

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on April 18, 2010 at 10:38 PM

Love these comical characters. Never seen an image of one so close and with a fish too! An 800mm! Now that's a lens.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on April 18, 2010 at 10:41 PM

"Did you use a photo blind or just patience?"

Luke,

I set up a blind several days ago where I had seen the Kingfishers using that perch. The first time I went to use it I realized that I had positioned it so that the BG was going to be poor and thus I had to move it. They are so wary that it takes a couple of days for them to accept something new along the creek bank.

I was in the blind for a little over 3 hours before this male showed up. Luckily is was a pleasant day so the wait was not an issue.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 18, 2010 at 10:53 PM

Yea, I'd say that's worth a 3 hour wait!

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on April 19, 2010 at 12:05 AM

Wonderful close up, Peter. You are certainly gettig great mileage out of that 800. And a very nice bg too

. My files have far more females and juvies than males too. I think they are probably more skittish but I also think females are more photogenic and we tend to choose them over males when the choice arises.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on April 19, 2010 at 3:29 AM

That's quite a catch and excellent detail in the plumage.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 19, 2010 at 7:09 AM

Sweet shot Peter. Awesome detail and with a fish too. Well done on the exposure and I like the profile comp. Very well done on a tough subject.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 19, 2010 at 8:10 AM

Amazing detail Peter - great shot

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 19, 2010 at 8:58 AM

completely fantastic, Peter. great job with the DOF and exposure, not to mention the planning and patience. spectacular detail in the larger version. Congrats on the shot and thanks for sharing it.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 19, 2010 at 10:00 AM

Geez, Peter. Couldn't you get any closer?

Looks like your hard work paid off once again.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on April 19, 2010 at 10:03 AM

"You are certainly gettig great mileage out of that 800."

Keith, I'm looking for all the help I can get.

I like the lens more and more, the light weight becomes ever more important the older I get.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on April 19, 2010 at 10:07 AM

Thanks Charlie, I would like to claim the "hard work" part but the reality is that sitting alone along a stream in April isn't really tough duty.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Glenn Bartley on April 19, 2010 at 10:27 AM

That is one serious meal. Nice job Peter!

Registered on June 29, 2004, 448 Posts, 1180 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on April 19, 2010 at 11:23 AM

Spectacular image, Peter! The boy looks pretty pleased with his catch! Your planning and patience was very well rewarded.

Thanks for sharing this!

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 19, 2010 at 11:54 AM

Peter...."the King of Kingfisher shots" another beaut! Incredible detail! Love the catch on top of the rare portrait of this hard to photograph creature. I hope my back gets good enough this summer to be able to sit long enough and wait for these guys...because it takes A LOT fo patience to photograph them and Peter, yours paid off! Way to go!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on April 19, 2010 at 12:16 PM

Amazing close up!! I've been close but NEVER this close, and a meal to boot. Great detail in the whites and blues...most excellent.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 19, 2010 at 1:49 PM

Peter,
Best Belted King Fisher shot I have ever seen. Unbelievable!!!! I will go to my grave trying to get a shot like this. These are my nemesis. I can't set up a blind where I live.....too many people. Unreal detail and lighting. You must be over the top excited with this one. Dave

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on April 19, 2010 at 3:17 PM

An astounding shot. I have trouble getting closer to these hyper guys than 100 yards.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on April 19, 2010 at 5:58 PM

Great shot. whites look good, I always blow the whites on the neck. Incredible portrait and the fish is a wonderful "catch". Excellent job with the blind.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on April 19, 2010 at 5:59 PM

Stunning!

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on April 19, 2010 at 6:05 PM

Wow that is some close-up Pete. Great detail !

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on April 19, 2010 at 8:44 PM

What a great shot. Now we know how they got that name!

Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on April 19, 2010 at 10:40 PM

Now that's a mouthful. Great image.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 20, 2010 at 12:38 AM

Super awesome capture. I can't believe you were able to get that close. The detail is awesome

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on April 20, 2010 at 4:38 PM

OMG!! Knowing how these guys dart and dash and dive by the split-second, this is just in incredible image! Pretty amazing setup you have for birding, too. Wow.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on September 17, 2010 at 8:17 PM

I'm having such a good evening looking at your gallery. This photo is AMAZING. I saw one on a perch today and got a distant photo from my car, but he was gone in a flash. You are too cool!

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments