Golden-crowned Kinglet

Gallery: AvianPosted December 4, 2012296 views21 comments

Finally got a break in the rainy weather the other day and I went for walk about at the local wildlife refuge. I ran into a busy group of feeding kinglets and set-up in a spot I thought they would eventually explore. I was lucky and was able to capture a few clos-ups portraits of this fast moving little cutie.

Canon Mark IV, 600mm & 25mm extension tube, 1/800, f6.3, ISO 1250

All your comments and suggestion are very much appreciated.

Ken Archer

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 4, 2012 at 7:34 PM

Wonderful take on this little cutie, sweet shot Ken.
Happy Holidays

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on December 4, 2012 at 8:05 PM

Spectacular is my word for this. I need never try to capture a good image of these birds. Outstanding in every way.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Fred Laberge on December 4, 2012 at 8:53 PM

Just beautiful, Ken. The coarseness of the moss contrasts so well with the softness of the bird. The colors, background, detail: it all blends into a superb image.

Registered on December 2, 2012, 3 Posts, 17 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 4, 2012 at 10:11 PM

Beautiful Kinglet photo Ken. Love the lichen on the branches. Sensational image quality. This species is a year round inhabitant of the forests in my region, but I just can't seem to get a decent photo of these little "flitters". Shockingly, I think you could actually use a little more space top and bottom on this miniscule subject.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 5, 2012 at 7:39 AM

Super nice Ken. Nice use of the extension tube to decrease focus range. Love the bird, perch, BG, and light. Super IQ and sharpness. Tough subject captured well. I can only hope to get a shot of this species this good some day. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Tom Lusk on December 5, 2012 at 8:46 AM

This has to be the best Kinglet shot I've seen. Such great detail!
I never realized their feet were yellow.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on December 5, 2012 at 10:50 AM

Wow, your strategy worked and paid of ! Excellent shot of these restless little guys ! Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 5, 2012 at 2:46 PM

Nice job on checking where they could land as this really paid off, excellent detail and setting, the larger image looks great.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on December 5, 2012 at 5:59 PM

Good idea to stake out. This is incredible. Would never have thought to use an extension tube.

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

Comment posted by Rebecka on December 5, 2012 at 6:22 PM

Another beautiful image, Ken! Question - why did you use an extension tube? Is it because your 600mm lens does not allow focusing on subjects that may be close? And this would allow you to do that? (I hope this is not too dumb of a question!)

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on December 5, 2012 at 10:42 PM

Awesome...LOVE that look at the golden crown.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 6, 2012 at 4:57 PM

Thanks everyone for your kind comments on this photo.

Rebecka, you are correct about the use of the extension tube. It does allow the lens to focus closer, approxiamtely 3 feet with my antique non-IS 600mm, which is a big deal when photographing little birds like this one. I actually use it quite often when photographing birds up close, With this combination I can photograph from about 11 feet to 60 feet away, but it will not focus to infinity. And I only lose about a 1/3 stop of light compared to a whole stop if I backed away and used the 1.4x tele-converter instead.

Ken

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on December 6, 2012 at 9:52 PM

Ken, your excellent technique and strategy has certainly paid off. Outstanding image of a very difficult subject. Well done.

Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on December 6, 2012 at 11:59 PM

This is a wonderful shot. I am wondering what the photo would look like if the tree by his tail were cropped out of the picture. It distracts my eye a bit.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Vanessa Caccamise on December 8, 2012 at 7:37 AM

Super cute.. great detail and nice perch!

Registered on February 7, 2012, 17 Posts, 57 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 8, 2012 at 4:35 PM

These guys are lightning fast on the perch-terrific job not only catching him still long enough for the shot, but in isolating him on a neat perch with a clean background. Great shot Ken.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 8, 2012 at 7:05 PM

Great catch, these guys never seem to stay still for long!

Ray

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

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on December 9, 2012 at 11:13 AM

Excellent image of a hyperactive specimen, Ken. The lichens makes a great addition to the image. Great planning and techs. I am amazed you pulled this off with a 600mm. I find it hard to follow them with much smaller focal lengths.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 9, 2012 at 4:25 PM

Love these little guys. Great capture Ken.
May

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 10, 2012 at 6:42 AM

Great detail Ken - maybe a fraction tight for me

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

Comment posted by Rick Andrews on February 7, 2013 at 12:28 PM

Wow this is a great shot Ken, well composed and I love the sharpness, colour and textures!

Registered on December 31, 2011, 45 Posts, 222 Comments