Canon eos 1Dmk3, 70-200mm f4IS lens, 1/250 sec, F8. flash.
Posted by Stuart McCrae on January 4, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Wow,that is what you call good timing,superb image I am in awe and very envious.
Stu.
Posted by Alan Bryant on January 4, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Oh my god
Thats one of the best KF images i've ever seen.
Awesome
Posted by eric weight on January 4, 2008 at 5:08 PM
That's an incredible image
It looks a bit weird on my monitor and I don't know why, it almost looks like the kingfisher has been painted on - maybe too sharp?? Something to do with the flash?? But just the most outstanding capture anyway. Just when you think it's all been done with kingfishers, somebody posts another amazing shot. Eric
Posted by Ian Andrews on January 4, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Nice bit of PS work!
Ian
Posted by Nigel Blake on January 4, 2008 at 5:59 PM
A stunning shot, great pose, action and detail etc, and I really like it in the main, but I think the set-dressing lets it down a bit, it don't look natural enough to my eye, in that it looks like its in a tank with with a couple of Moss turfs around the edge and the lighting is a bit too studio!
Posted by Edwin kats on January 4, 2008 at 7:48 PM
My first reaction was WOW But after a little while I got the impression it's fake. Of course it isn't but it just doesn't look natural to me. Great job I admit and i'm very curious how you did this.
It's not "in a tank" or "PS" it's stright out of the camera croped about 40% and sharpend.
It is in my garden pond with 3 550ex flashguns and a lot of discarded images
before geting lucky.
Posted by Ian Andrews on January 5, 2008 at 4:39 AM
In that case, well done.
The things that make it look strange are the relationship between the size of the waves/ripples and the backgroud vegetation, and the cleanliness of the head/fish with no water droplets showing.
I can sypathise with the amount of discarded images
Thankyou Ian
I would never PS my wildlife images ( apart from crop/etc).
I get a lot of enjoyment from the thrill of geting a good image, thats the fun of the hobby for me.
If you just cut and paste things around in PS then thats no fun.
I have put a few near miss's on my web site so you can judge for yourself.
Gary
Posted by Ian Andrews on January 5, 2008 at 6:06 AM
Some close ones there Gary! Focus is always a problem as you have so little DOF to play with!
I am guessing some of these were taken during the summer, as you seem to have both male and female birds.
Incredible shot - very well done. Do think however, as has been commented above, that something needs toning down a fraction. A very minor point by which I don't mean to detract from your achievement
Posted by Edwin kats on January 5, 2008 at 6:08 AM
Well done Gary. I like it even more now.
Great shot.
I think it's just the use of a few flash guns that has given it the slightly unnatural look. I've got some night-time shots of badgers, and the ones where 2 or 3 flashguns were used tend to make it look like it was shot in a studio, because the blues and greens of the bluebells look so bright. Just a touch desaturation was enough to make it more natural looking.
Again, great work.
Posted by Andy Shepherd on January 5, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Discussion
14 repliesStu.
Thats one of the best KF images i've ever seen.
Awesome
It looks a bit weird on my monitor and I don't know why, it almost looks like the kingfisher has been painted on - maybe too sharp?? Something to do with the flash?? But just the most outstanding capture anyway. Just when you think it's all been done with kingfishers, somebody posts another amazing shot.
Ian
Edwin Kats
It is in my garden pond with 3 550ex flashguns and a lot of discarded images
before geting lucky.
The things that make it look strange are the relationship between the size of the waves/ripples and the backgroud vegetation, and the cleanliness of the head/fish with no water droplets showing.
I can sypathise with the amount of discarded images
Ian
I would never PS my wildlife images ( apart from crop/etc).
I get a lot of enjoyment from the thrill of geting a good image, thats the fun of the hobby for me.
If you just cut and paste things around in PS then thats no fun.
I have put a few near miss's on my web site so you can judge for yourself.
Gary
I am guessing some of these were taken during the summer, as you seem to have both male and female birds.
Keep at it.
Ian
Great shot.
Edwin
I think it's just the use of a few flash guns that has given it the slightly unnatural look. I've got some night-time shots of badgers, and the ones where 2 or 3 flashguns were used tend to make it look like it was shot in a studio, because the blues and greens of the bluebells look so bright. Just a touch desaturation was enough to make it more natural looking.
Again, great work.
Stunning image , one of the best I've seen
Regards
Andy...