Rocket Landing

Gallery: AvianPosted February 16, 2012688 views23 comments

I was stoked to see this appear on my LCD after snapping a couple of frames of the super-fast Malachite Kingfisher flying from branch to branch at a hide in a local wetland sanctuary. You typically need to shoot at 1/6400 to 1/8000 for these guys, and they are SMALL!

This is a juvenile with the beak being black, it turns bright red upon reaching adulthood.

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f7.1 @ 1/8000 SS @ ISO-4000
Manual exposure mode
Auto ISO
0 EV
Quite a crop
BG as shot

Added a hint of canvas on the RHS as it was edge-of-frame (I don't normally do this and like to keep my shots "as shot" but this one was too tempting as the bird was just too close to the edge.

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 16, 2012 at 1:58 PM

Really exceptional image! Excellent pose - love the little FEET. Perfect techs to freeze the wings.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 16, 2012 at 2:10 PM

Very nice image quality and lack of noise for ISO 4000.

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

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on February 16, 2012 at 2:44 PM

Impressive shot at 4000 ISO, Morkel ! And many thaks for your comment to mine.
4000 ISO and a big crop produce good image for prints, as well ?
Mauro

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on February 16, 2012 at 2:53 PM

Thanks guys.
Mauro I've printed images like this up to A3/A2 with no issues. I'm sure you can even blow it up bigger if you know what you are doing in processing your pre-print image.

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

Comment posted by Edward Scott on February 16, 2012 at 2:53 PM

Don't blame you a bit for adding canvas. On a shot like this, you want it look it's best. I would have done the same. Great job!

Registered on February 8, 2012, 22 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 16, 2012 at 3:39 PM

Whoa! Way to go!

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on February 16, 2012 at 4:52 PM

Hello Morkel

Stunning !! SWEET. image. Great leading foot with that distinct Colouring!. Sharp All-Over, Well Done!.

What was your Distance from Subject?
Did you Prefocus & shoot Manual?

Really enjoy the Wing positions & is that something Very Small in his beek ?

Great Image to View & Aspire to! THANKS

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on February 16, 2012 at 9:52 PM

Magnificent. Every detail sharp.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 17, 2012 at 1:33 AM

Awesome Photo Morkel

He's a beauty and you caught him perfectly, love those feet too.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 17, 2012 at 2:29 PM

Wonderful timing to get the landing pose and interesting reading about your techs on getting the shot. For iso 4000 and a big crop the larger image looks great with nice detail and colors. Nice job in getting this shot, well done.

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

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on February 17, 2012 at 7:04 PM

This pict tells a story. Love the pict. The feet are really cool.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hansen on February 17, 2012 at 8:11 PM

Stunning! Everything about this is inspiring.

Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 17, 2012 at 8:46 PM

Awesome action here Morkel, congrats

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on February 18, 2012 at 1:56 AM

Thanks so much for the kind comments, folks!

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on February 18, 2012 at 6:50 PM

I would have been stoked, too! Excellent work.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on February 18, 2012 at 7:15 PM

Sensational image Morkel. Just love seeing what this camera can do pushed to the limits, and you certainly showcased the action and the equipment. Congrats!

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 18, 2012 at 11:30 PM

Super image.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on February 19, 2012 at 2:43 PM

Thanks a bunch for the kind comments, folks...

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

Comment posted by May Haga on February 21, 2012 at 9:44 AM

Perfect timing Morkel. I would be pretty stoked also if I had a shot like this.
May

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

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on February 22, 2012 at 9:18 AM

Congrats on your EP

A very very nice image

Superb

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 22, 2012 at 10:40 AM

Congrats on the double WP's!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on February 23, 2012 at 12:59 AM

Unbelievable! A very exciting catch, indeed. No criticism from me on your decisions about processing the image-- adding canvas; it's well done and does nothing but save an incredible image. Congrats on the shot and the Pick for it!

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on February 28, 2012 at 9:13 AM

Very nice work on this Morkel and congrats on the WP. Curious, did you track him? Or were you pre-focused on the branch? Either way, impressive, but if you tracked him you are super human and there is no hope for me!!

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