Belted Kingfisher

Gallery: AvianPosted October 1, 2011245 views22 comments

From this morning. Every chance I get I try to improve on the images I already have of this species. This morning a found a spot where two kingfishers were fighting over a favorite fishing perch. They were too far away to shoot while on or near the perch, but I was hoping they would fly my way a few times. This bird came close enough to shoot twice. This is my best image out of the two ops I had. I love the BG and the bird's tail, body, and head are sharp, but a combination of things kept me from getting sharp wings.

First, this was very early light so I could only manage 1/1600s at ISO 1000 at f/5.6 and that is not a fast SS relative to how fast these birds beat their wings. Second, I was wide open at f/5.6 so minimal DOF added to the softness of the wings.

I do feel the lack of sharpness on the wings combined with the position of the wings makes this image less appealing than it could have been.

Please view larger version for max details

Canon 1DM4
500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC
ISO 1000
1/1600s
f/5.6
Manual exp.
Hand held
50% of FF

Comments

22 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 1, 2011 at 5:07 PM

Definitely a tough shot to get - I can't even manage one on a perch let alone in flight. I think you did well here and I'd be happy with something similar.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Jaymes Dempsey on October 1, 2011 at 5:53 PM

Lovely catch! The colors are gorgeous...great light, too! And I think considering the limited opportunity, this is wonderful!

Registered on June 28, 2010, 47 Posts, 590 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 1, 2011 at 7:16 PM

Ron, A very challenging subject in more ways than one. The background is wonderful and the stem of the bird is sharp. Nice catchlight and framing. You've done very well here on a tough flight shot - again.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on October 1, 2011 at 7:58 PM

Great shot Ron. As you note these are very fast birds and you did real well here under the conditions. I'd be thrilled with this image.

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

Comment posted by Hussain Nalwala on October 1, 2011 at 11:25 PM

Ron I like it..... Being a small bird it must have been a really tough shot to take, but all the same it is beautiful.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 298 Posts, 339 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on October 1, 2011 at 11:56 PM

I would be happy just to see one let alone get a photograph of one. Nice job getting this under the lighting conditions you mentioned and hand held, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Verdon on October 2, 2011 at 12:13 AM

AWESOME !!!

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

Comment posted by Bill Kleinfelder on October 2, 2011 at 5:35 AM

Ron, Good detail, light and background. These guys are very illusive, so well done on just for the getting it. Seen you shot and I think you have some secret acquisition system hidden in your vest.

Registered on September 6, 2011, 14 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on October 2, 2011 at 7:31 AM

Excellent flight shot considering you were wide open and at 50% crop, Ron.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on October 2, 2011 at 9:25 AM

I can't get close enough to one of these sitting still, yet alone capture one in flight. While I don't think it's among your best flight shots, I'd still be very happy with this. They ARE fast little buggers! Nice light and I especially like the tail. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on October 2, 2011 at 9:52 AM

Ditto all the comments about wishing to get an image of a kingfisher even on a perch. There are three right now in my backyard, and I can't even get out the back door without their vocalizing their displeasure and flying away. It's wonderful that you got this shot.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on October 2, 2011 at 11:03 AM

Even though the wings didn't come out as you would have preferred Ron, I would still be very pleased having captured this challenging shot.
What I'm curious about is the color of this bird. I don't think I've ever seen one this color, The Belted Kingfishers I'm familiar with are a bluish grey color.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on October 2, 2011 at 11:22 AM

Hey Ron, absolutely great ! So hard to get these birds in flight, and on top of that the light and BG - just brilliant ! I am - positively - jealous ! Well done, cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 2, 2011 at 11:45 AM

I agree that you could have been luckier on wing position, but it's still a very good flight shot of a Kingfisher. Beautiful light. Early morning flight shots are tough!

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 2, 2011 at 12:55 PM

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Gary, this bird is blue-grey in color. There just is not a lot of that part of the bird to be seen in this image. The early morning light is an orangish/red and that effects the color of the bird a bit, but on my calibrated monitor the bird still comes thru as blue-greyish. What color are you seeing on the top of the near wing and the face? Thanks Ron

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 2, 2011 at 5:01 PM

Never an easy image to make - you did a great job. Early morning light pays off well here and the background is nicely rendered.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 3, 2011 at 4:14 AM

I dream of capturing bird in flight images as brilliant as this! Thanks for setting the standard so consistently high Ron, and for showing us that magical shots of this caliber are indeed possible. As always, your work is an inspiration to me, thank you so much for sharing :^)

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

Comment posted by Eric Diller on October 3, 2011 at 7:01 AM

Nice shot Ron!

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

Comment posted by May Haga on October 3, 2011 at 3:43 PM

Perhaps the wings are not sharp but this is still a very appealing image.
May

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 4, 2011 at 2:54 AM

Fantastic Ron, any shot of a kingfisher in flight would be great but you've nailed this one. Don't mind the slight blur in the wings but agree that you could have had a better wing position

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 4, 2011 at 8:46 PM

Excellent catch, great light and wonderful background.

Ray

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on October 5, 2011 at 10:59 PM

Jeez Ron. First you nail the most difficult avian image on the planet with the Osprey dive and now you get a really good image of most peoples nemisis, mine included. There is some lost detail in the under part of the wing but getting this with a shutter speed of only 1/1600 is truely otherworldly. The background is delectable. Just love the colors. Exceptional Ron.

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