Hello All

I'm relatively new to this forum and it's all Phil H's fault as he has been trying to point me this way for some time.

I hope I've got the image posting bit right. Its a Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) but I'm sure I don't need tell you that.
Taken on a D200 with 18-70mm lens set at 34mm and f/13. EM140 DG Sigma macro flash plus a couple of EF530 super flashguns, all set to 1/16th power.

Hope you like it and thanks for looking.

Ian

Ian,

Persistance pays... I will point out that this is a single result from three months of effort.. I do beleive you need a touch more 'modelling' from the flash, perhaps a kick from the rear if possible (from what you have told me I do think that is possible)... Super shot and I know there are more to come

Reading between the lines of Phils post Ian your efforts look like they have paid off

Obviously a multi head flash setup, some of us can barely handle one so we prostrate ourselves at your feet

Really nice image Ian, as Phil says, there's room for a bit of re-balancing - I'm sure there's some kick to be added to this image in PS with some carefull work - wish I had an image like this to try with.

All round excellent job - looking forward to seeing many more

The kingfisher in flight is something I have on and off been trying to get,fast becoming apparent that it will take a lot of time and probably more than I can commit too in a single go.
This is a stunning shot and far beyond what I could ever hope for.

Stu.

Excellent shot. Is it manually triggered or ... infra-red/pressure on the negative wave??

Thanks for the comments

The shot is manually triggered with a cheap Hong Kong derived Radio Remote.

Ian

absolutely brilliant. three months well spent i'd say

Hello Ian
A very warm welcome from me too, I wondered how long it would be before you joined UKNP! I know your images are first class, and this is no exception. I am another who struggles to use flash, so this is an inspiration for me to try harder.
Best wishes
Phil

Thanks Guys, and Hello Phil, long time no hear! I hope you are well.

The flash was a case of necessity rather than choice!
The site is in deep woodland with little ambient light and what there is is the wrong side of the stream to that I have access to. Even with the canopy having opened out over the last couple of weeks, ambient light is still not an option.

It was therefore a case of use flash or end up with nothing.
Using flash at low power means that there is no way the background can be properly exposed, hence the black backgrounds. (Low power = shorter flash duration.) the flash duration on this is approx 1/11600th sec

Thank you all for the kind comments, they are appreciated.

Ian

Hi Ian,

Superb capture

Regards

Andy...

Hi Ian,

A perfect photo of this bird in flight. Here are things I find you can improve on: I would clone our bright reflections on and just behind bird’s beak and if you have another flash gun, I would try to use artificial background and light it with that additional flash for more realistic photo of this daytime bird. And to get it like this with manual trigger wow!

Cheers,
Marko

Nice start Ian, and I look forward to seeing more - your weblink promises much more to come!



Mark

Hi Ian,

Blimey, you've set a high standard to come in on Stunning. Can't critique as I'd just be happy to see one!!

Hi Ian,

Nice capture

Regards

Frederic

Superb image, very well done. Tristan