Belted Kingfisher

Gallery: AvianPosted January 10, 2011228 views27 comments

Sugar Land TX. December 26, 2010

D3 ISO 250 300/2.8 with 2x tc. f5.6 1/800s -0.7ev. From car window. Natural Light. Not Baited. About 30% FF.

This Kingfisher lives about a mile from my home. I have been waiting in my car near this perch he favors for long periods of time for him to come and sit. One day I sat there in my Quick Camo for about an hour, but he never came-don't know if he was avoiding the new structure or just bad luck. I'll go back to get closer, but I'm such a fan of these birds that I wanted to post what I did get.

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on January 10, 2011 at 10:03 PM

Nice catch Angela, I haven't been able to fill more than a few pixels with one of these guys, this is a very nice image. I love the perch and the BG is scrumptious. Sweet pose and a nice catch light - detail is quite good, especially for such a large crop - well done.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 10, 2011 at 10:26 PM

Angela- great job on this very difficult exposure. I like the stump perch and the smooth BG-very nice!

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 10, 2011 at 10:29 PM

What you did get is awfully nice!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 10, 2011 at 10:46 PM

beautiful comp and setting, Angela. this is really nice. I'm with Rich--I'd keep at this guy with the camo til I get this shot from closer up--it's worth it!

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

Comment posted by Loulou Beavers on January 11, 2011 at 2:34 AM

Close enough for me, I'm a big fan of some habitat in a photo..and for that this is a nice composition.

Registered on June 21, 2008, 73 Posts, 205 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 11, 2011 at 3:52 AM

Angela, I love this bird too !!! Avesome perch, beautiful natural habitat ! Very sharp and detailed in spite of the crop. Waiting for closer shots...

Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 11, 2011 at 9:17 AM

Unfortunately, I work 12 hour days.....

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 11, 2011 at 9:49 AM

Nice image of the Kingfisher, Angela, and a beautiful composition. Well done.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on January 11, 2011 at 10:43 AM

Love your compostion and backround.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Edwin kats on January 11, 2011 at 1:23 PM

Just wonderful. Great light too.

Edwin Kats

Registered on April 24, 2006, 177 Posts, 399 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on January 11, 2011 at 1:56 PM

Very nice Angela, nice pose, perch, and background.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 11, 2011 at 1:57 PM

Very nice image for 30% of frame, they sure are interesting looking birds, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 11, 2011 at 4:09 PM

Good work getting this one Angela. I have had no such luck with these guys and really jusy need to set up a blind to have any chance at an acceptable inmage. I really like the comp on yours. Good job!

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 11, 2011 at 5:27 PM

I'd be pleased with this, Angela. The techs are all good and with that comp and perch it works very well.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Lisa Wiesbauer on January 11, 2011 at 5:29 PM

I'm green with envy -what a beautiful shot. The pose is perfect and as others have said, the BG is fabulous. I also have one of these little guys very close by, but haven't been able to capture him yet.

Registered on October 16, 2007, 23 Posts, 116 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 11, 2011 at 7:19 PM

I'd be delighted if this were mine Angela - much better than I've been able to get on the species. I particularly like the background - the colors and the way the kingfisher is framed by the OOF branches. There's a narrow halo around the bird, especially noticeable at the beak, that should be easy to remedy.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 11, 2011 at 7:38 PM

Angela, this is one of my most favorite kingfisher images ever. Love the soft focus on the bg and shallow dof. Really nice

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

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on January 11, 2011 at 7:48 PM

Wonderful shot, beautiful detail!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Dottie Short on January 11, 2011 at 9:25 PM

I think these are the most unusual birds. The beak seems too big for the body. Angela, this is a beautiful image! The BG is so lovely, composition is impeccable, sharpness is excellent, and love the catch light in the eye. I have never seen this bird, but would love to meet up with him some day.

Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 12, 2011 at 12:45 AM

Nice composition, perch and background Angela - getting close is always the hardest part with these guys though.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 12, 2011 at 3:19 AM

I'll take one too

Sweet photo Angela!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 12, 2011 at 5:54 AM

Love your comp and background Angela - wonderful shot

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 12, 2011 at 8:41 AM

Wonderful shot as posted, Angela. Congratulations for getting this close. Even being more than willing to admit a large crop, I can't get close enough to these guys to obtain a shot this nice.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 12, 2011 at 10:49 AM

Really like this Angela. Sometimes wish I lived further south as you do..
I'll keep my eyes open for the sequel, well done

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on January 12, 2011 at 11:54 AM

Excellent image Angela. Love the setting and the composition.
May

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

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on January 12, 2011 at 7:14 PM

This is lovely, I like the perch too and the way you've framed the bird with the twigs

Well done.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 12, 2011 at 9:13 PM

Hi Angele

Wonderful capture of this elusive species

Love everything about it

Albert Darmo. Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments