Belted kingfisher

Gallery: AvianPosted October 13, 2009988 views40 comments

This bird was chasing another kingfisher off of its fishing perch. I have been trying to get a decent flight image of this species for awhile. I think this shot came out pretty well considering the relatively slow SS for a flight shot, but I know it can be improved, so I am going to keep trying. I really would like the entire wing sharp. Thanks for looking and commenting. Please view the larger version for critique, as the details are much better. Cheers.

Canon 50D
500mm f/4
ISO 400
f/4
1/800s
Manual exp.
HH

Comments

40 comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on October 13, 2009 at 3:30 PM

This is truly outstanding! The background, light, and comp is terrific.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on October 13, 2009 at 3:31 PM

Ron - I love it! The wing is fine by me - absolutely beautiful as is. The background is as good as it gets. I am equally surprised that this turned out so well at 1/800s - very well done indeed!

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on October 13, 2009 at 3:31 PM

Really nice. The detail and colors are super.
I like the BG and the wings position too.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on October 13, 2009 at 3:34 PM

Hi Ron . The bg and wing position is great. You don't see too many decent flight-shots of this species, so well done !

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 13, 2009 at 4:29 PM

This species is without a doubt the bane of my existance and refuses to allow me to photograph it. Everytime I spot one along Dune Rd. in my car it flees from the scene before I can even think about pulling over.. That being said, excellent shot, especially with the lower SS

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on October 13, 2009 at 4:58 PM

Ron, you're really doing some pretty impressive stuff with these BIF shots. Maybe 1/800th was a manageable speed considering the relatively slow downbeat of the wing cycle. And even with a hair of motion blur in the wings, it still conveys the feeling of movement of the bird. Fine work!

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

Comment posted by Wayne Simpson on October 13, 2009 at 5:00 PM

Great shot! Good job nailing the focus, and framing with all the movement going on.

Wayne

Registered on December 11, 2006, 303 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on October 13, 2009 at 5:38 PM

Everything is perfect here. BG, light, pose and details.

daniel

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 13, 2009 at 5:56 PM

Terrific! These birds are so difficult to get within range. I'd be thrilled to get something this good of a kingfisher in the wild.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on October 13, 2009 at 7:28 PM

super shot Ron! These birds are hard enough to get perched, let alone in flight. Great light, great background, great wing position, well-framed. The blur in the wings doesn't bother me--I'd love to have taken this.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 13, 2009 at 8:33 PM

Excellent sharpness on the body, Ron adn the eye contact is great. I don't mind a bit of motion blur in the wings.

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

Comment posted by Mack Barham on October 13, 2009 at 8:52 PM

Just a super capture!!!

Registered on August 12, 2005, 537 Posts, 1107 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on October 13, 2009 at 9:04 PM

Very nice all around!!

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 13, 2009 at 9:27 PM

This image looks great to me, Ron. All I can do is echo everyone else in congratulating you on it.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on October 13, 2009 at 9:42 PM

Amazing. Great catch and with such a wonderful background too.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on October 13, 2009 at 9:53 PM

REALLY NICE JOB, Ron. I love the exposure and BG and would love to have this in my collection!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on October 13, 2009 at 10:37 PM

Great catch! Beautiful image!

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 13, 2009 at 10:50 PM

Super image.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 13, 2009 at 11:15 PM

Solid flight shot Ron. The wing position is excellent, good techs too.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 14, 2009 at 3:59 AM

Nice one Ron - good sharpness and I like the background

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Tom Lusk on October 14, 2009 at 4:51 AM

Wow! Just wow!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 312 Posts, 600 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 14, 2009 at 6:54 AM

Thanks everyone for all your comments. I usually end up changing something based on comments I get here, but I guess I will leave this one alone. Cheers.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on October 14, 2009 at 7:43 AM

Very-very impressive!

]
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on October 14, 2009 at 9:10 PM

Wow Ron I finally caught my first one today under forums. The images weren't good enough to post but I was so excited to see one. This is excellent. Love the wing movement and catch light

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on October 14, 2009 at 9:35 PM

Great shot Ron. I understand about the wings, but sometimes, the small blur gives a better feel for movement and I think it works fantastic here. I would be very happy with this one. I can;t even get close enough to this species for an acceptable perch shot (still need a 500mm).

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

Comment posted by Andrey Antov on October 14, 2009 at 9:58 PM

A crisp picture of a flying kingfisher. How nice. Thank you for sharing.
Andrey

Registered on March 18, 2008, 292 Posts, 341 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on October 14, 2009 at 10:05 PM

Ron:
I've been trying to get a good flight shot of a Belted Kingfisher for a long time too. I don't have anything nearly this good. I am going to keep trying too.
Great wing position. BG could not be better. Everything is sharp except for the wing motion. I would prefer a little less wing motion or have the motion totally frozen. Excellent capture.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 15, 2009 at 9:53 AM

Ron,

I saw this yesterday but was tied up with work and couldn't comment on just how great I think this is! This image is excellent and I'd be pleased as punch to have it in my files!

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Harrison on October 15, 2009 at 11:26 AM

WOW - an absolute beauty Ron

I've spent many hours trying to photograph Kingfishers in flight (with only limited success)and I know just how difficult it is to capture an image like this - well done

Registered on September 20, 2009, 9 Posts, 73 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on October 15, 2009 at 6:39 PM

Ron:

I'm a little late to come up with any new compliments so

One of the best kingfisher flight shots I've ever seen.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 16, 2009 at 1:17 AM

Yeah, keep working at it Ron

This is super, great pose, bg, lighting

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

Comment posted by richard ettlinger on October 16, 2009 at 8:13 AM

Perfect!

Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on October 17, 2009 at 1:25 AM

Ron this a great shot of this bird in flight .The slight blur on the wing tip is IMHO just perfect giving a sense of movement--It is in flight__

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on October 17, 2009 at 12:45 PM

It's rare to see a good image of a belted kingfisher. Well done, Ron.You'll go some to beat this.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 18, 2009 at 9:46 AM

Ron, This is an image that is difficult to criticize because it has so many positives. I love the background, wing position, open beak and sharpness of the body (esp at 1/800). I can't recall seeing a better flight shot of the species. Seems to me that the amount of wing blur in a flight shot is a matter of taste and for me I might slightly prefer slightly less of it. To my eye there also seems to be some slight motion blur in the beak (from calling?). But both of those things are extremely minor and do not detract from the image IMO. I know you've been frustrated by noise with the 50D but it seems to me that you've posted images at slightly higher ISO's than 400 where noise wasn't a significant issue. Perhaps that would have given you enough SS to make the wings (and beak) slightly sharper. All that said, this is a superb image of a species that has bedeviled me for a long time. My hearty congratulations!

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 19, 2009 at 5:02 PM

Ron,

Congrats on a well deserved EP!

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on October 20, 2009 at 3:43 AM

Congrats on the EP.

A image that is truly up there with the best of them