Belted Kingfisher: Portrait in Profile

Gallery: AvianPosted July 29, 20072,375 views33 comments

Mark III, 600mm w/1.4 ext, f/6.4. ISO 320, 1/1300th Natural Light

I hope you don't mind a few more Kingfishers. My wife says I am obsessed with them, which may be true, but she's out of town.

Comments

33 comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on July 29, 2007 at 9:39 AM

I don't mind, and all of our wives think that... so you're in good company

This is great, Peter. They just keep getting better.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on July 29, 2007 at 9:55 AM

Spectacular! Love the pose!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Jasper Doest on July 29, 2007 at 10:17 AM

A beautiful pose captured!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 371 Posts, 2101 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony House on July 29, 2007 at 10:55 AM

Keep them coming

Excellent capture.
Tony

Registered on September 9, 2006, 3 Posts, 30 Comments

Comment posted by Michel Lemaire on July 29, 2007 at 11:11 AM

Kingfishers are always so funny for me, and this one is especially. Great sharpness, original attitude!

Michel.

Registered on April 14, 2007, 44 Posts, 502 Comments

Comment posted by George Hall, Jr on July 29, 2007 at 11:37 AM

Fantastic image Peter. Great details, color, and a Fatastic OOF BG. Very nicely captured.

Registered on July 11, 2004, 283 Posts, 2395 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Damiani on July 29, 2007 at 11:57 AM

it's a amazing kingfischer's portrait

Registered on July 27, 2007, 13 Posts, 29 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 29, 2007 at 12:17 PM

Gorgeous, and the birds attitude shines brightly too!

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

Comment posted by Gaurav Manglik on July 29, 2007 at 1:25 PM

super ...

Registered on December 2, 2005, 191 Posts, 2126 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Sanchez on July 29, 2007 at 1:57 PM

Man, you keep getting better with your "obsessed" KF. Beautiful image all around.
Maybe a little more space at bottom if you have the room.

Registered on March 22, 2006, 46 Posts, 594 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 29, 2007 at 5:22 PM

Wonderful image detail - overall a very nice image.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 29, 2007 at 5:52 PM

You must have had some amazing hight intensity diffused light going on here Peter to reveal such nice subtle detail, great stuff. That background is very pleasing by the way. As Ray suggested, maybe a little more room at the bottom to balance.

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

Comment posted by Tom Merigan on July 29, 2007 at 6:35 PM

We will take all we can get of such well photographed usually shy birds

Tom Merigan
Portola Valley,CA

Registered on April 24, 2006, 69 Posts, 751 Comments

Comment posted by Adam Grimm on July 29, 2007 at 6:43 PM

Great shot! a very dynamic pose.
I noticed that you shot this at ISO of 320. With the Mark III's increased ISO speed low noise levels, is there any advantage to shooting with this low of an ISO speed? ...not that 1/1300th isn't plenty fast. I was just wondering if you can see any difference between ISO of 320 vs 800 ...or 1600 for that matter.
Also, how is the AF working for you?
Please let me know. Thanks!
Best Regards, - Adam Grimm ...a future Mark III owner

Registered on March 2, 2007, 0 Posts, 85 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on July 29, 2007 at 9:58 PM

Adam,

I only recently purchased the Mark III. I honestly do not see a difference between ISO 320 and 400. I may though in printing? I am still playing around with the settings and since I had plenty of light for this one I tried a slower film speed. Normally I shoot 400, or more if I have to. I can say that I shot a bunch at 800 and I could see more noise as a result. I have seen people mention Ninja Noise reduction but I don't know what that is yet.

I love the Mark III. It is so much better than my 1Ds for this type of photography that I can't believe it. I have had zero focusing issues but I am not doing wing shooting.

Everyone else. Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate it!

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by David Marotta on July 29, 2007 at 10:00 PM

Obsession...It's in our blood...continue on. Great photograph Peter

Registered on January 3, 2007, 111 Posts, 622 Comments

Comment posted by Adam Grimm on July 29, 2007 at 10:03 PM

Thanks for the reply Peter.
I appreciate the info.
Best Regards, - Adam Grimm

Registered on March 2, 2007, 0 Posts, 85 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on July 29, 2007 at 10:23 PM

Great image Paul. Again remarkable detail. I think this is a pardigm instance image of a Kingfisher for me.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on July 29, 2007 at 10:34 PM

Ray and Gary, Thanks for the suggestion to allow a little more room at the bottom. It does look better that way.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 29, 2007 at 11:31 PM

Excellent - I especially like the alert posture.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 29, 2007 at 11:34 PM

What a great kingifsher image Peter, super work. If it were mine I'd include a little more room on the right and the bottom.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on July 30, 2007 at 12:15 AM

Superb detail here!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on July 30, 2007 at 1:09 AM

That's the perfect Kingfisher shot!!! That is nice. The only way you could do better is get this with a fish in its beak!! Perfection.

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

Comment posted by Helge Sorensen on July 30, 2007 at 5:24 AM

What a pose, Peter - super shot

Registered on November 1, 2003, 186 Posts, 1526 Comments

Comment posted by David Hemmings on July 30, 2007 at 12:24 PM

LOL my wife says I am obsessed with birds period, I usually have to go out of town. This is a beauty

Registered on May 26, 2006, 178 Posts, 1680 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on August 6, 2007 at 10:25 AM

Certainly can't argue with that

My favorite too. Congratulations on the EP!... also very nice to see your progress through this series of photos (although I have a feeling that you're STILL not finished

)

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Barry R. Byrd on August 7, 2007 at 11:47 AM

outstanding image Peter

Registered on December 20, 2005, 136 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Zimic on August 7, 2007 at 7:48 PM

The detail, pose and lighting here are over the top. It really doesn't get any better than this. Awesome.

Registered on November 23, 2003, 176 Posts, 727 Comments

Comment posted by David Kjaer on August 9, 2007 at 4:22 AM

Hi Peter

Fantastic pose and all round shot - a well desrved EP!

David

Registered on January 4, 2006, 128 Posts, 4170 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Rogers on August 13, 2007 at 5:53 AM

Hello Peter just beautiful.

Registered on January 16, 2007, 450 Posts, 995 Comments

Comment posted by Jose Suro on August 19, 2007 at 8:28 PM

Excellent image! One of the best kingfisher shots I've seen. Congrats!

Jose

Registered on June 24, 2006, 267 Posts, 2273 Comments

Comment posted by Laurie Braman on December 7, 2007 at 5:54 PM

Superb photo. Love his upright tail and that punk hair do. The background is incredible and adds a lot to the shot.

Laurie

Registered on November 22, 2007, 14 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 29, 2008 at 12:55 AM

Fabulous image Peter..
Every bird photographer's dream

Howard

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