Kingbird Flight

Gallery: AvianPosted June 29, 2011150 views10 comments

Mark IV, 800mm with 1.4 ext, ISO 1000, f/9, 1/2000th, Wimberly, Natural light

I have tried to capture Kingbirds in flight a number of times with less than stellar results. This is one returning to his perch. I like much about it, especially the in flight pose with full wing spread and fanned tail. The detail is pretty good for having to use so much glass. Larger image provided.

I wish the eye showed better. It can be clearly seen, but there is no catch light and anything I tried doing to help bring out the eye looked wrong.

I hope to try for this again from a better (closer) vantage point where I can leave the 1.4ext off.

Comments always greatly appreciated.

Peter

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 29, 2011 at 9:44 PM

Amazing clarity for that much glass, Peter. I really like the flared landing position.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on June 29, 2011 at 10:10 PM

This is a nice one. I like seeing all the belly feathers so soft and white. Agree about the eye, but quite a catch anyway.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on June 30, 2011 at 2:00 AM

Love the wing position and the flared tail feathers. Looks like he is about to capture something, nice action shot.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on June 30, 2011 at 8:01 AM

Hi Peter, Great look at all the ventral surfaces and sharpness and exposure look right on. Really like the background too. Seems to me that since this bird was landing (so it had to be looking at the potential perch) that it would be next to impossible to get light in the eye from your angle. You did well to be able to see it at all. Very nice.

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

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on June 30, 2011 at 8:47 AM

Wow, Peter, you're really nailing some beautiful BIFs! Love the detail, pose and bg. I know what you're saying about the eye but I think for this pose you got the best image possible.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on June 30, 2011 at 1:30 PM

I like the wing spread and stop action for a flight image, hard to get this right, would like to see more of the eye or head as you mentioned but nice job getting this difficult shot.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on July 1, 2011 at 7:56 AM

I feel for you regarding the eye, but this is a truly magnificent capture nevertheless Peter, congratulations on a job well done :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 1, 2011 at 12:17 PM

Very nice wing and tail position. I of course like you would wish for some eye contact, but hey....I wouldn't complain too much about it with this great action

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

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on July 3, 2011 at 7:30 AM

I think you did pretty well here techs are good with so much white you did a really nice job on that part of it. Its sharp and thats half the battle. This type of shooting on such a small bird Id be happy.

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on July 3, 2011 at 7:14 PM

Excellent flight shot Peter, nice wing and tail spread. I suppose if one wanted to be realy picky you might want to see a bit more of the eye but I rather like it as presented.
May

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