Kingfisher

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) - Essex, UK

Canon EOS 1D3 + 600/f4IS + 2.0x, Gitzo 1548 with Wimberley Head WH2; shot from hide.
Manual exposure mode - f11, 1/500s, ISO 400, auto white balance, full frame.
RAW image processed in Adobe Camera Raw and sharpened in Photoshop CS3.

Most years, at the end of the summer, I see Kingfishers passing through the small wetland that I manage. Last year I decided to do something about it. I created a sheltered pool in the reed bed that I thought would provide good conditions for small fish in the hope of attracting the Kingfishers. It took me six weekends to create the pool and by the time I had finished, the Kingfishers had gone. Yesterday evening I noticed the first of this year's visitors so I set out this morning armed with a suitable perch and by 9.30 I had rattled off over 600 frames.

This is one of the sharp frames shot on my 1D3.

Awesome capture Phil

Some will bound to say "its looks tight in the frame", but IMO it suits the shot very well

The sharpness is superb aswell .Also the perch is very nice.

I take it from your last comment the MKIII was not performing, as in focusing .But using a 600 with a 2.X, i'm not really suprized , thats a hell of a magnification WOW

Hi Phil,

Stunning. It just show's what a wonderful habitat you have there. Colours and composition are spot on as is exposure, holding detail in those tricky white patches!

On the other hand, I would be well cheesed off if my camera only managed a low percentage of sharpness on a static object

Regards

Rob

Fantastic image, technically flawless, and what a subject, very well taken .

Just a little tight in the frame for me - maybe a vertical or a 1.4x would have been ideal.
However, the sharpness and detail are fantastic, and you have captured the zinging colours of the kingfisher superbly.

Technically perfect-you only need 1 image when its as good as this

Dave

They don't come much better than this.

Nice... but, for me far too tight in the frame, the bird isn't being allowed any room at all for movement, given that you were in control here I think I would have expected more, which I am sure will come as this appears to be a juvenile and will give you plenty of opportunity..

All the best

Pin point sharp, nice perch but too tight in the frame .
Rene de Heer

Super detail, colour, and perch Phil

Good to see that all the time and effort paid off, and a great reward

A bit tight [even for me ], although i think it would suit a square framing {adding a touch to the top and bottom, and shaving a touch off the left}.

Alan

Hi Phil,
Really like it , the colours , the detail and the sharpness are all excellent , as for the comp , which ever way you frame it it's going to be superb.

Kind regards
Andy...

A lovely sharp image with a great pose, nice perch and with the sunshine bringing out the vibrant colours very well.
Not so much a nit but probably more personal preference but IMHO the image would benefit from a slightly cooler white balance as the image appears just a little too warm and 'yellow', as in temperature as opposed to a colour cast.

Hi Phil it was worth all the work to get a shot like this.
John
Aberdeen

Hi Phil

Nice pose with great colours, perch and BG. I also find the image a little too tight in the frame and just a tad contrasty - that said still a bit special!

David

Very envious - a gordious shot, not nits from here

Hi Phil

Great colour and detail, technically perfect. I agree the framing is a bit too tight, I would prefer a bit more space around the bird. Excellent capture though.

cheers

Sean

Too tight for me too Phil, but a cracking image. I sat for 10 hours over 2 days this weekend gone and didn't even see a KF!!! Slept well in the hide though

Excellent Phil. This has huge impact with startling colours and detail. Yep, bit tight, but then would it have the same impact with plenty of space?