Grey-headed Kingfisher

Gallery: AvianPosted June 14, 2011632 views25 comments

Photo taken 2/17/2011 in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania while on a photo tour organized by Ray Barlow.
D300 and 500mm f/4 + 1.4x tc supported by a bean bag on the open top of a Land Rover. Wish I could get this close to a Belted Kingfisher in the U.S.
1/640 s, f/7.1, ISO 500. Full frame, shot in vertical format. Sharpening, noise reduction and other minor adjustments using LR3.
Comments and suggestions desired.

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Verdon on June 14, 2011 at 3:42 PM

great shot, sweet pose...

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on June 14, 2011 at 3:48 PM

love the soft light and details on this guy, cool pose too, though I wish the head was turned just a smidge more towards the camera

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on June 14, 2011 at 3:56 PM

I seldom make over to the avian forum, but I'm glad I did for this one. Beautiful shot David, of a gorgeous bird. Well done.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on June 14, 2011 at 4:14 PM

A beauty David - I especially like the open bill pose with similar angle to spines, clean background and interesting perch and the lovely bird.

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

Comment posted by John Robinson on June 14, 2011 at 5:46 PM

Thats a great shot !
Nice positioning in the frame and I think the perch is spot on.
Why can't we get some good stuff over here !!
JohnR
Worcs
GB

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on June 14, 2011 at 6:01 PM

I have never seen this species David. The techs are right on the money and wonderful pose, colors, detail, etc.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on June 14, 2011 at 7:27 PM

I'd love to have this for my files, David! Just great!

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 14, 2011 at 10:34 PM

Wish I could get that close to a Kingfisher too, David. Beautiful image. Great composition, perch and detail, and a lovely bg. A bit more light in the eye would have topped it off, but it's still a gorgeous image.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 14, 2011 at 11:29 PM

A spectacular image David, the open beak and thorn bush really put this over the top.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on June 14, 2011 at 11:45 PM

Wow David, this is really a fantastic image. Love that open mouth. Must have been a great moment.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on June 15, 2011 at 4:13 AM

Excellent timing David! I doubt he had his beak/bill (?) open for long and seeing a Kingfisher open up like this (unless it's got a fish in it!) I reckon is a very rare sighting. Wonderful detail and the background as well as the perch really help to make this a terrific picture, very well done :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on June 15, 2011 at 7:48 AM

Love the perch and comp and it's an excellent POV/pose also..
Technically very well done, it's a quality full frame shot David.
Hat's off to ya

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

Comment posted by Bill Maile on June 15, 2011 at 8:29 AM

Wow, that IS NICE David! Full frame, yow. Agree on the Belted comment.

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on June 15, 2011 at 9:23 AM

Ahhhh super cool open mouth . great colors and a really neat perch. Great exposure on the whites with a slight bit of backlighting onthe beak. Nice! You and me both on the belted Kingfisher

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on June 15, 2011 at 10:22 AM

Excellent, David. I want one too. I really like that thorny perch.

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

Comment posted by Phil Ellard on June 15, 2011 at 10:29 AM

Think this is stunning as is

Registered on December 17, 2010, 60 Posts, 634 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on June 16, 2011 at 8:08 AM

Great shot, beautiful colors and composition. The pointed orange beak and the thorns compliment each other.

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on June 17, 2011 at 5:09 AM

Great perch and detail David - well done

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by May Haga on June 17, 2011 at 3:31 PM

Amazing shot David. Love the perch and the open beak.
May

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on June 22, 2011 at 7:45 PM

A very appealing shot David. Love the BG and the open bill. Really strong comp with great light and detail. Congrats.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 22, 2011 at 8:09 PM

Gorgeous! Not the tiniest nit from me!
Cpngrats on the fine WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on June 23, 2011 at 12:54 AM

Wonderful shot, David. Love the glowing color in the bill and the thorns matching the color and angles in the photo. A well-deserved EP.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 23, 2011 at 2:43 PM

Congrats David!

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on June 23, 2011 at 9:47 PM

Enjoying this image another time. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on June 28, 2011 at 3:47 PM

Somehow I missed the original post but congratulations on the weekly pick, excellent shot all the way around, way to go.

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